I am currently in FFA in high school and I would like to start raising some livestock. I raise corn and soybeans currently on a small scale and would have a 34' by 64' barn to use for this project. I knew either way I am not going to be able to raise many cows or pigs but as long as I make a little money I will be fine with that. What is easier to market on a small scale? How many of each would I need to break even? I live in Northeast Iowa if that helps, thanks.
I am looking to finish. I have access to a hammer mill, and everything I need to produce hay and straw. I will be renting more land to put to hay if needed otherwise it will be corn or soybeans. I also have a manure spreader that I bought from my neighbor.
Well I take that back, I would buy feeder pigs and finish them and if I did cattle I would like to buy feeder calves and raise them. What weight would be best to sell the beef cows at because I don't have a feed yard.
Access to markets is a substantial barrier for pig production. If you can sell a potload a day the packers will talk to you, less than that don't bother.
The cattle market still has auction sales. You may not like the prices, but they can be sold any day of the week. However the current high in the cattle market doesn't favor entry at the current time. Neither does the long lifespan for a short term project.
You are talking niche production. Have you looked at niche animals such as sheep, goats, or fowl?
Do you have a plan to wind up your production operation when you go to college or vo-tech? Or are your parents going to "volunteer" to continue your livestock operation?
If you were to do this smaller scale, like finishing 3-4 of either at a time, you may be able to direct market them to the consumer. There a couple farmers here who have a herd of cattle, and then keep a couple sows (can't remember breed) to have a litter ready for butcher every 6-8 weeks. He has no problem selling them as live animals to people who want to make their own chops, ground pork, sausage, etc. It works because there are a number of people here who used to do this on their own, but live in town/city now. The hogs that come out of a production barn don't produce as good a final product for this type of backyard processing. These wouldn't quite be free range, but I would definitely consider them fresh air!
I would tend to agree with Ben Heide .
Do a bit of advertising by word of mouth or through friends etc .
You should have no issues selling your production for cash .
My kids market 100+ turkeys . 500+ chickens , 100+ hogs of various weights (BBQ to finished) and about 12 to 15 steers every year .
All by word of mouth .
Works well for there Toys and college fund (in that order it seems)
The hog market is heading for a major tank this summer. There is a large glut of pigs out there and all the packers are saying that they are extremely short on shackle space. Getting in the pig market now is a guarantee loss of money, unless you can direct market like Ben suggested. Don't want to be doom and gloom but I think this year will get the last of the die hard small independent producers out of the hog business.
I do see good times in the cattle sector for the next few years, but it is big dollars and big risk to get into now. You have access to hay and straw, I would go the cow route. Maybe buy a couple breds and finish their calves out.
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