Planning A Livestock Farm
Planning a livestock farm, involves the meticulous design preparation, and an outline of your goals and target, what you really want to achieve in your livestock enterprise.
These may result in keeping animals for food and other economic and financial benefits.
When it comes to planning a livestock farm
The major commercial livestock includes cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. In order to make the livestock enterprise a profitable one, the following points must be considered.
Young calf for fattening
Recommended for you:
Cattle Rearing, Maximizing Your Profit through Minimizing Your Cost of Production
How to Engage In Profitable Sheep Fattening For Maximum Profits
8 Proven Ways On How to Starts and Maintain A Poultry Farm
In Planning a Livestock Farm You Have To Put Into Consideration the Construction of Their Housing Unit
For instance, the Nigerian dwarf goats are predominantly found in the southern part of Nigeria while the Sokoto red goat is found in the northern part of the country. Both regions have varying climatic conditions.
The northern part of Nigeria has far less rainfall compared to the southern part of Nigeria. So in constructing their housing unit great care must go into the planning of the housing.
To ensure adequate shield from wind, draft air, and rainfall to guarantee a dry and conducive environment that is attainable up north.
If you are considering rearing Sokoto red goat where it is always dry. These are closer to the ecological zone that is most suitable for the wellbeing of your livestock.
Goats feeding
READ ALSO:
Caring For Goats during the Raining Season, Best Strategy to Employ.
Water, Feeds, and Quantity of Pasture
When planning for a livestock farm the availability of water, feeds and quantity of pasture is a basic requirement. Especially in the dry season when the rains have gone. Without adequate planning, provision, and storing of these basic items you have already signed a pact with failure in your farming enterprise.
READ: Water and Its Importance, Sources, Health Hazard Associated With It
Optimal climatic conditions that favor its rearing in the area
Most livestock has the ability to flourish in most climatic regions of the world as a result of years of genetic medication, study, and adaptation.
Regions of the world with extreme heat that spans most parts of the year do have problems rearing certain livestock such as poultry and cattle.
In view of this when planning for a livestock farm you are advised to provide good shade, adequate ventilation, and a good cooling system where applicable.
READ ALSO: The 5 Lessons I Learned In Poultry Production the Hard Way from My Twelve 12 Years of Farming
Young rabbits
In Planning a Livestock Farm Investigate Growth, Weight Gain, Disease Resistance, and the Economic Viability
One of the greatest mistakes done by many livestock farmers is their inability to fully investigate the growth, weight gain, disease resistance.
And the economic viability of the particular specie of the livestock they want to rear. Knowledge of the breeds of animals to be reared and their production potential is pivotal to the overall success of any farming enterprise.
If you don’t take your time to do a thorough work on this your chances of success would be extremely slim.
You might be interested in READING:
Rabbit farming: Profitability and Best Practices that will Yield High Result
Chickens: 9 Reasons Why Your Family Needs This Amazing Bird
Poultry Farming: Why Some People Fail
Having A Standard Road Map
Planning for a livestock farm entails having a standard road map on how to control pests, ticks, worms, and diseases in your flock.
You have to put into consideration the following
- The environment you want to rear your livestock.
- The feed you want to use how safe and nutritious it is to your livestock.
- Deworming, treatment, and drugs to use.
- How to reduce the cost of production to maximize profit
in planning for a livestock farm make provisions for their drugs
Housing Requirement, Its Location, Equipment, and Materials Used
These are very crucial in planning a livestock farm. Each particular species of livestock or farm animal has a basic need and requirement when it comes to constructing their place of abode.
The location also matters in terms of
- Good access road
- Availability of electricity
- Availability of cheap and affordable labor
Choosing the countryside with good access road isn’t a bad idea. For farm location.
Recommended for you:
Proven Ways to Keep Farm Thieves Away From Your Farm and Property
Tips on How to Reduce and Stop Stealing on Your Farm
5 Reasons Why Turkey Farming Is a Good and Dependable Source of Income
Nearness to Market Centers Is Also Pivotal In Planning a Livestock Farm
If you get this wrong from the beginning it’s going to affect your overall success. You are in business to make a profit. If you cannot sell your livestock or farm produce, it means there won’t be room for expansion.
Therefore strategizing from the beginning where you want to sell your livestock, will be an added advantage.
Certain products such as milk, meat, and fish go bad due to lack of proper storage and preservation facilities, as well as poor market demands.
READ: Five (5) Solid Ways You Can Create Wealth through Poultry Farming
Having Basic Knowledge Is a Key Factor in Planning a Livestock Farm
To be successful in livestock business you need to have basic training and technical knowledge, skills, and the experience of a farmer.
Recognizing signs of ill health or abnormal conditions in livestock in order to effectively care and manage the situation.
This is very important in planning a livestock farm because your veterinary doctor will not always be in your farm 24hours.
You have to be able to recognize when an animal or livestock is sick, unwell to apply first aid treatment before your vet doctor arrives.
Recommended for you:
How to Ensure Good Hygiene and Bio-Security in Your Poultry Farm
Noiler Farming In Nigeria, the New Game Changer
Financial Standing of the Farm Owner
When planning a livestock farm, on a large scale requires huge investment on the part of the farmer. You can’t start what you cannot finish.
From day one livestock farmers are often advised to make provision for the following basic requirement to avoid failure and regrets.
- Housing
- Feeding
- Labor force or farmworkers.
- Treatment, drugs, and disease management.
In Conclusion
In starting and planning a livestock farm, you must not be 100% perfect and ready, it’s a journey and a learning curve. You will learn a lot as you climb the staircase of your livestock enterprise adventure.
But there are some basic issues you must address if you want to make any headway at all.
These include passion, basic knowledge on livestock housing, feeding pattern, disease management, and treatment. Good luck.
