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Beef Production

• The purpose of raising beef livestock is for meat production
• Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousine, Simmental, and Shorthorn are common beef breeds

Cow-Calf Operations

• It is a method where farmers/ranchers maintain a permanent herd of cows producing calves for sale
• Calves are typically weaned in fall/winter and then sent to a "stocker" operation

Stocker Operation

• Cattle ranging from 200-650 lbs are acquired
• The cattle are purchased after weaning
• They are turned onto pasture to gain weight before being sent to the feedlot

Feedlot Operation

• Cattle reaching about 700 lbs enter the feedlot operation stage
• They are fed grain and forage until they reach a slaughter weight of about 1,200 lbs

Swine Production

• The main reason for raising swine is for meat, more specifically pork
• Yorkshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Chester White, Landrace, and Duroc are the six main breeds of swine
• Swine have a gestation length of 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days

Farrow to Finish

• It involves breeding and farrowing sows and feeding the offspring until they reach a market weight of about 280 pounds
• The production period takes about 10 months total
• 4 months is for breeding and gestation
• 6 months is for raising the litter to market weight

Farrow to Feeder

• It involves breeding and farrowing sows
• Piglets are sold to finishing operations when they weigh between 30 to 60 pounds

Feeder to Finish

• Pigs that are 30-60 lbs are brought in and raised to approximately 280-300 lbs (harvest weight)

Goat Production

• Goats are raised for their milk, meat, and hair
• Their gestation period is 5 months
• Alpine, Boer, LaMancha, Cashmere, Angora, Nubian, Saanen, Toggenburg, and Oberhasli are the main breeds of goats

Milk Goats

• Saanen, Sable, Nubian, Toggenburg, LaMancha, Oberhasli, Nigerian Dwarf, and Alpine are the eight major dairy goat breeds in the United States
• Dairy goats have an average lactation period of 284 days
• Peak production occurs four to six weeks after kidding
• Goats have two teats
• Wisconsin is the largest dairy goat state in the nation

Meat Goats

• Boer, Kiko, Spanish, and Spanish goats are common breeds
• Chevon is meat from goats 55-80 pounds or 6-9 months old
• These animals stay on pasture or are fed grain until they reach their end weight

Fiber or Hair Goats

• A fiber goat's fleece is able to produce cashmere or mohair fibers
• Mohair is coarse, has long fibers and is used for knitted garments
• Cashmere is used in woven garments because the fibers are shorter
• Raw fiber comes from either the sheared Mohair (Angora goat) or the combed Cashmere (Cashmere goat/crossbreed) with the removal of guard hairs

Sheep Production

• Sheep are generally raised for meat, hair(wool), and milk
• Gestation lasts 5 months
• Southdown, Suffolk, Cheviot, Rambouillet, Hampshire, and Dorset are common breeds

Milk or Dairy Sheep

• Sheep milk is essential for specialty cheeses like Feta and Roquefort
• Sheep milk is an ancient practice that originated in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, but is relatively new in the United States
• Sheep milk is located on the East and West Coasts of the US
• Specialty products like ice cream and yogurt are made from sheep milk
• Sheep milk has lower lactose content, which makes it more palatable for lactose-intolerant consumers
• British Milk Sheep, East Friesian, Lacaune, and Sarda are specific breeds
• The number of dairy sheep in the United States is unknown, but estimated to be around 75-100 producers
• Branding and targeting niche consumer demands are common for these producers

Meat Sheep

• Lambs can be marketed at any age, with variable weights between 120-160 pounds according to market conditions and the time of year
• Lambs born from September through May (with the majority being born in Spring), are usually sold at around 110 pounds
• Local auctions, slaughterhouses, brokers, and individuals are common ways to market

Wool Sheep

• Sheep and lambs are raised and sheared at least once per year to harvest wool
• This is a minor part of the industry
• The wool is sold to be spun into material or used to make something

Poultry Production

• Poultry raised for meat and eggs
• Chickens have a hatching time of 21 days
• New Hampshire Red, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Leghorn, Orpington, Barred Rock & Silkie are common breeds

Layer Chicken House

• A laying house is a building for maintaining laying flocks of chickens,
• It contains nests, lighting, roosting space, waterers, and feed troughs
• Feeders and waterers can be automatic
• The largest houses include:
  • feed storage
  • egg room
  • utility space in a center section
  • laying-house wings in both directions

Broiler Chicken Production

• A broiler is any chicken breed and raised for meat production
• Commercial broilers reach slaughter weight between four and seven weeks
• Slower-growing breeds reach slaughter weight at around 14 weeks
• Typical broilers generally have white feather and yellowish skin

Hatchery Operation

• A hatchery is where bird eggs are hatched
• Small poultry hatcheries produce chicks that are sold to backyard farmers
• Poultry hatcheries supply larger chicken farms with chicks for meat and/or eggs

Horses

• Horses are raised for Pleasure, Race, and Work
• Quarterhorse, Thoroughbred, Percheron, Clydesdale, and Arabian are common breeds
• Horses have a gestation length of 11 months

Pleasure Horses

• A privately kept horse maintained for pleasure or casual riding rather than competition or work
• Some horse owners show their pleasure horses in competitions that showcase their good manners and gaits
• They are tyically in a division with other pleasure such as Western Pleasure or English Pleasure

Racing Horses

• These are high-quality genetic horses raised specifically for running races
• They are trained and have special diets to help them win or reach their goals
• The racehorse industry is complex and costly

Draft Horses

• They are bred to be strong enough to pull heavy loads
• Examples are logging, plowing, and hauling hitches