I want to be a "REAL" Farmer someday... Lambs or Turkeys?

[MossflowerWoods]

Guys,

I am trying to get a start at converting my property into a productive "Farm".

So in the course of conversation, the wife and I think of thinks we'd like to buy, and then think of if we could produce such.

For example fresh, free range, Organic turkey's at Wegman's were $4.99 per lb.

Lamb has gone up from $4.99 to $6.99 at Costco (even more elsewhere).

I'm going to have pasture soon, is it feasible to raise Free Range Turkeys or Lambs for market?

If I don't ask, I'll never know. So I hope this is not a stupid question.
Thanks in advance,

Be well,
David

 

[blueriver]

I raised Katahdin Sheep for years ... wool less that did not need shearing. Meat lambs. Very enjoyable and a good Border Collie is a must. You can average about 1.5 lambs per sheep ... alot of twins. Good field fence, feeding area and a lambing barn.

I sold alot of 70-80 lb wethers right off the farm for BBQ. Also would advise a nursery area for the lambs that need a little help being bottle fed.

At the time I was doing it the USDA was strict on the eradication of scrapies ... I was registered with a farm ID and reported to them on the animal health. Buy from and established breeder with a clean herd and keep them clean and you'll be good.

 

[Egon]

Look into the actual price you get for lambs or turkeys; not the in store price.

Also check out the required Butchering procedures.

It might change your outlook.

 

[Lloyd_E]

David,

It takes about 2 years to become "Certified Organic" and a lot of paper work/documentation.
All inputs have to be Certified Organic plus your water source has to be tested and documented. Your animals will need to be certified organic from source as well.
Organic feed is double the cost of regular feed. It is not impossible just a lot of work up front. Plus your need certification approval every year(all of this coming from a Canadian perspective) and you pay to be certified yearly.

But to answer your question - Yes. Will it be profitable? It all depends on the numbers. BTW I sent you a PM. It depends on what the market will bare. I have seen field raised pork - not certified organic - priced at $16 per lb for some cuts. Would be interesting to know if it sold.
Local farm raised pork -small scale - sells for $2 to $3.50 per lb. The cheaper number is for sides only.

I did turkeys one year... buggers to catch when they get loose!

Keep us posted.

 

[blueriver]

65 lb lambs for slaughter last week average $1.85 a lb. ... about $120 bucks a lamb. Most stockyards sell sheep and goats ... not all.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

65 lb lambs for slaughter last week average $1.85 a lb. ... about $120 bucks a lamb. Most stockyards sell sheep and goats ... not all.

Blue,

Who's the customer for Goats?

I've not eaten goat, and nobody I know who's not been military in A-stan has eaten goat.

Who's buying the goats? I'm a sales guy mostly and I need to understand my customer.

The stockyard point is to let me know where to go to get the sheep???

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[blueriver]

Blue,

Who's the customer for Goats?

I've not eaten goat, and nobody I know who's not been military in A-stan has eaten goat.

Who's buying the goats? I'm a sales guy mostly and I need to understand my customer.

The stockyard point is to let me know where to go to get the sheep???

Thanks in advance,
David

Alot of folks eat goat and lamb ... I do not want to have someone crawl on the "racist" band wagon. I sold alot to folks that would slaughter right at my farm and head the lamb when facing east and the family would pray during the slaughter. I had a small concrete slab with water and disposal available.

The stockyard is best for selling extra lambs ... in the event you had some that you didn't market ... you have another source to sell. If you decide on sheep or goats buy from a good clean established flock.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

David,
BTW I sent you a PM.

I did turkeys one year... buggers to catch when they get loose!

Keep us posted.

Lloyd,

The PM was awesome info! Thanks. You and I are in VERY similar situations I suspect.

I would love to see video of you chasing down the turkeys! :laughing:

My market here would mostly be pre-sold at a discount to friends, family, Church buddies who know me. The remainder would likely be sold via a couple of "farmer's market" shops.

We've got a guy here who sells pork sausages etc in a number of "Farmers Market" type stores "Papa Weaver's Pork" I've seen his ribs and bacon in freezer in a commuter lot Saturday market type place offered at $15/ lb ribs and $24/lb bacon!!!!

I've heard pigs are hard to contain, but I'd love good clean pork at a reasonable price.

I would not shoot for "Certified organic" until I was running a farm full time. Right now I want it part time side job, and for my kids.

PS - No matter what I will never let this place have less than 26 acres of "woods"

Be well,
David

 

[randy41]

You need to identify your market...are you going to sell from your farm, or farmers market, or wholesale?
You can raise and butcher poultry in VA on your farm up to (this is a guess) 5000 birds per year. Broilers and turkeys are good combination because they use the same processing equipment.
If you sell lamb the requirements are different and most small producers around here deliver their animals to a processor. If they are selling to the general public (like at a farmers market)the meat must come from a USDA inspected facility.

 

[samhudson3]

Go chat with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, you're maybe only a couple of hours away. Polyface, Inc. | The Farm of Many Faces

Also, your local ag extension agent could be a good resource for you as well. Small farms are making a huge comeback (most folks either have someone working off the farm or have a pension).

Here's my local extension agent's website, pretty good resource for me:
Growing Small Farms: North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center

Good luck and above all, have FUN!