If you have ever bought a purebred animal, you will know that they are expensive
Expensive may just mean a greedy breeder, or it may mean a quality animal.
My first medical service dog was a purebred golden retriever. I got him as a pup, and paid a whopping $969 for him as a potty-trained pup. His dad was the national dog of the year 9 years in a row, and mom was national bitch of the year 2 years in a row.
The breeder also selected who would get which pup and went to great pains to appropriately match for both owners and pups needs.
From when he was a week old, he was assessed by an animal psychiatrist every day. He was assessed to be the quietest and most intelligent of the litter. He was also fully vaccinated.
The incredible time and effort she put into breeding the ideal, healthy dog and then matching him with me made the job of training him so easy. He really was the perfect dog. Well-worth every penny.
There is money in breeding animals. Unfortunately, there are breeders out there running puppy mills, just allowing animals to get pregnant over and over because they are too cheap to spend money on sterilization, or they just don’t have a clue what they are doing.
If you give due diligence to what you are doing, and understand all the aspects of breeding, and have a realistic income in mind, you can definitely make money through breeding. You will need to know:
What your breeding pair will cost How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age What the cost will be per day to raise the offspring to selling age/weight How large an area you will need for breeding and raising the animals What you will need in terms of resources, veterinary care, food, bowls, bedding, etc. And finally, what you can sell the animals for, i.e., to determine profitability take what you will sell the animal for and subtract what it will cost to breed and raise the animal
So, let us look at what animals can ethically bring in money, and will be best suited to your living conditions! You do not have to have a big farm for several of these.
Summary of Expenses and Profit Animal # of Animals Needed to Start a Business Setup Costs Purchase and Selling price Per Animal Daily Cost Per Animal How Old Offspring Are for Sale and/or Products Sold Profit Opportunities After Start-Up Chickens 2 roosters 10 hens $5000 $5 – $20 per 10 weeks old $3 – $5 per day old chick $0.12 day old 10 weeks One chicken usually produces a clutch of 12 chicks
Sold for $5 day old’s Sold for $20 at 10 weeks
$1.27 per dozen eggs Rabbits 2 bucks 10 does $300 $20 per rabbit $1.13 6 – 8 weeks 1 litter is 7 – 15 kittens Sold for $20
The fertilizer can be sold for $5 to $15 per pound Mice 5 males 10 females $300 $20 per mouse $0.90 18 days 1 mouse produces a litter of 6 – 8 babies
Sold for $20 per mouse Goats 1 male 30 females $3000 $100 per goat $2.80 3 – 5 months Each female produces 1 – 5 kids at a time A female gives birth up to 7 times per year
Each kid is sold for $100 Sale of extra milk $4.50 per gallon Alpacas 5 males 30 females $50000 $3000 – $10000 $1.00 14 – 16 months Most pregnancies result in 1 baby, but the female gives birth at least 10 times in her life Selling price = $3000 per alpaca
Each alpaca produces roughly 3 – 10 pounds of wool per year, the wool is sold for between $2 to $3 per ounce
Sale of manure at $15 for 15 pounds
Meat sells on the exotic food market at +/- $50 dollars per 16 ounces Guinea Pigs 5 males 30 females $600 $20 $0.60 21 days A female produces 1 – 8 pups in a Sold at $20 per guinea pig Ducks 6 drakes 30 ducks $5000 $2 – $10 per duckling or duck $0.15 2 – 3 weeks 1 duck produces 1 – 2 eggs per day; of these she will sit on +/- 12 eggs at a time to hatch
Duck eggs are sold for about $1 each. A dozen eggs will net you $12
Each duck or duckling sells for $2 – $10 Bees 1 queen 1 colony $300 $25 – $32 for 1 queen $175 – $200 per established colony $0.2 6 months Income of $600 – $800 per colony for honey
Production and sale of hives $15 per hive Rental for crop pollination $240 per hive
Facilitating training at $160 per person Horses 1 stallion 40 mares $1640000 $500 – $155500 $10.00 3 – 6 months A Friesian mare produces +/- 16 foals in her lifetime
Friesian horses sell for $25000 – $50000 An Arabian mare has +/- 16 foals in her lifetime Arabian horses sell for $80,000 – $150,000
Sale of semen or cost for stallion to cover a mare $1500 – $1million Cattle 1 bull 30 cows $125000 $2000 – $5000 per head $520 – $905 from birth to slaughter 1000 pounds Selling price per yearling $800 – $1500
Selling price per 100-pound head $700 Chicken Raising for Profit
Chickens are a logical choice, as they are always in demand. I have owned and run a commercial chicken farm, selling primarily for consumption, but also for eggs.
They are easy to raise but they come with one major snag: health in their runs. I was religious about the health of my chickens, cleaning every pen every time I sold off the stock, and with a 2-meter foot bath to get into the runs.
Everything went splendidly until, one day when I was not present, a spy from another farm snuck in to see how I was doing it. The jerk jumped over the footbath because he didn’t want to get his feet wet! As a result, my chickens developed Newcastle’s Disease, and I had to close my business for 2 years!
Be aware of who is on your property, and do not allow visitors near your pens. This is true for all the animals on this list, always ensure the safety of the animals above the curiosity of visitors.
If you are breeding for consumption, make sure you are set up, are compliant with and registered with the USDA’s Food safety and Inspection Service regulations.
What your breeding pair will cost:
Both a rooster and a hen will cost between $5 and $30 depending on the specific breed.
If you want to raise your own chickens from chicks the chicks will cost $3 to $5 each.
You will have to sex them before buying to make sure you have both hens and roosters. You should always have 4 hens per rooster.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Chickens are ready to sell for slaughter when they are 10 weeks old, or they can be sold as day old chicks.
What the cost will be per day:
Your daily cost to feed a chicken is about $0.12, depending on the food you choose to use. Organic food is much more expensive, it costs about $0.60 per day.
How large an area you will need for breeding and raising the animals
The size of the chicken run depends entirely on how big you want your operation to be. If you only have 5 chickens to breed with, you will need a very small run. In the coop you will need 2 square feet per bird, and outside the run should be 8 – 10 square feet per bird.
If you are running a large-scale operation, you will need separate runs for each batch, and each run should be 60 square feet to house 50 chickens. This is for raising chickens for consumption.
It is healthier for the chickens, and it affects the taste of both the meat and the eggs, if they are free-range. This means they have a large outdoor area where they can forage and scratch about.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Runs or outdoor pens Water dishes Feeders Natural supplements to ensure healthy birds (e.g., OxyE-100, Zyfend, and HealthyFlock) A footbath that is at least 2 meters wide and 2 meters long in front of the door or gate Lots of disinfectant Raising Rabbits for Profit
Rabbits are very easy to breed with, because, well… they breed like… rabbits .
They are popular pets, but they are also popular food. If you are raising for pets, they do not need to be with you for long, just until they are weaned from their moms at 4 to 6 weeks old.
Rabbits are very profitable because they have large litters, grow quickly, and reach breeding age faster than most other animals.
What your breeding pair will cost:
The cost per rabbit can vary greatly depending on the breed and where you get your rabbits from. If you get the rabbit from a rescue group, you can expect to pay $5 to $20. If you buy from a pet shop, you can expect to pay $20 to $30, and if you buy a specific breed from a breeder you can expect to pay $100 or more.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Rabbits can be sold between 6 to 8 weeks old.
What the cost will be per day:
Feeding and housing rabbits costs roughly $1.13 per day, therefore your monthly cost will be about $40.
How large an area you will need:
If you have a breeding pair, you will require a cage or hutch that is at the very least 12 square feet, and a run of at least 27 square feet.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Pellets Bedding Hay Vegetables Treats Toys
Raising Mice for Money
Mice make great pets, they are intelligent, and can be quite affectionate, therefore, they are in demand. However, a pet is not the only reason pet shops sell them. They are largely sold as food for snakes and other animals that prey on small animals.
I’m a bit of a softy, so I will just imagine you in your lovely home, raising sweet little pets for all the children in your neighborhood.
They make great pets because they do not take up a lot of space, so many parents opt to start their kids, who are begging for ponies, on a mouse instead.
What your breeding pair will cost:
A breeding pair will cost between $10 to $20. Make sure you have one male and one female before you buy them.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Mice are ready to start breeding when they are 6 weeks old, but you should not breed with your females until they are 8 to 12 weeks old – let them be kids for a while. Their babies mature very quickly and can be sold when they are just 18 days old.
The female will continue to breed all year long.
What the cost will be per day:
Mice are very inexpensive to raise, you can expect to pay $0.90 to $3 per mouse per day.
How large an area you will need:
If you just have one male and one female, you will need a cage that is at least 20 X 20 inches (60 x 50 centimeters) floorspace, and is 10 inches (30 centimeters) tall – they are escape artists!
If you want to get serious with breeding, you will need more than one female. The correct sizing of the cage is based on the number of mice in the tank.
For the first mouse, the tank should be 20 x 10 inches. After that, for each mouse you add, you should add 16 x 8 inches in floorspace.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Cage or tank Bedding A secure mouse carrier Food bowls Water bowls An exercise wheel Toys A tunnel or nest they can go into to rest Goats for Profit
If you have the space – and your flower beds are well protected – goats are a great source of income. Many households across the world are switching from cows’ milk to goats’ milk.
I have some experience with goat milk and all the uses for it because my preemie son was allergic to everything but goat milk.
You can make ice cream, yogurt, cheese, milkshakes, everything you can make from dairy milk. The difference is in the taste of everything. Goat milk has a significantly higher cream and fat content and is much sweeter than cow’s milk.
Goats are also raised for consumption. Although it is more expensive than beef, it is delicious and can make a fantastic meal for special occasions.
What your breeding pair will cost:
Purebred goats and females are more expensive than males, and depending on where you buy your goats from, you can expect to pay $100 to $800 per goat.
The male can be paired with 30 – 40 females, raising the income significantly.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Kids are normally sold when they are 3 to 5 months old.
What the cost will be per day:
Raising goats costs about $2.80 per day. That is based on your breeding goats; the kids will be less, especially while they are drinking from their moms.
How large an area you will need for breeding and raising the animals:
If you are going large-scale straight off, with 50 goats you will need 10 acres of land.
However, if you plan on starting small and building your herd as you go, you will need 70 square feet. Some of this property needs to be roofed for sleeping and escaping wet weather, but the ability to move around and browse for food is very important too.
What you will need in terms of resources:
An enclosed pen Hay bales, empty crates, old tractor tires – anything they can jump on to play Plenty of vegetation Bedding made of straw, shavings, hay, shredded paper, or corn cobs Shelter from wind, sun, and rain Toys Raising Alpacas for Money
Alpacas are rapidly becoming a common farm animal.
They are profitable for a number of reasons. They are primarily sold for their fleece (wool). They are shaved for their wool once a year, and each alpaca produces at least 4 pounds of wool. The wool is sold mainly to producers of alpaca products.
They are lovely, loyal pets that are very sociable, and interact freely with most other animals. They are not very keen on being petted, but do love the occasional neck scratch.
Often nature conservation reserves rent alpacas to hikers in their reserve to carry heavy packs and supplies. They are very calm and have no trouble with weight bearing.
Their poop is also sold as a high-quality manure. They poop roughly 4 pounds a day! They are also kind enough to poop in the same spot every day, so collecting the manure is quick and easy.
What your breeding pair will cost:
You are most likely to pay $3,000 to $10,000 per alpaca. However, backyard accidents are often sold for $250.
If you want a specific breed and you are pinning your hopes on personality, the quality of the wool, and how the animals look, you could pay as much as $50,000.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Alpacas are normally sold when they reach breeding age, at 14 to 16 months old. Because they are bred for their wool, the age of the alpaca you sell is not really a factor.
The price is based on the genealogy, looks, and quality of the fiber. Therefore, it is better to wait until they are breeding age as breeders and farmers will want to see what they are paying for.
Daily costs:
To raise 3 alpacas will cost roughly $1,100 per year – that is roughly $1 / day / alpaca.
How large an area you will need:
Alpacas need roughly 1 acre for every 5 to 8 animals depending on weather, terrain, and grass available. If you do not have very lush grass in the pastures, you can either supplement with hay or allow more land per animal.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Healthy pastures Hay Shelter from the weather Access to water A shearing shed (optional) a sorting shed for the wool (optional) a weaving shed for wool Raising Guinea Pigs for Profit
Guinea pigs were originally bred for their meat as well as for medicinal purposes during certain religious ceremonies. They are still bred for human consumption, but they have also become profitable in other ways.
Guinea pigs are great for pets, they can be very sweet natured.
They are also part of a huge show industry, where prizes are low, but the sense of community is high. Breed and movement are not of great value in most shows. They are judged on how cute they are, their grooming, and personality. Perfect for pet owners of all ages.
What your breeding pair will cost:
Guinea pigs sell for $10 to $40 each, but you could pay more for the fancier breeds.
You will also need roughly $100 to buy everything you need to set up your guinea pig’s new home.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Guinea pigs are normally weaned within 2 – 3 weeks. The maximum time they would need with mom is 21 days. They are then ready for sale.
What the cost will be per day:
For at least 2 days, the pups get their food from mom exclusively. After that they will begin nibbling on different pellets and fresh produce.
You can expect to spend roughly $40 per month for food, bedding, and medical expenses per breeding pair. That works out at $0.60 per animal per day.
You should set aside at least $5 per month to save for vet bills. They are exotic animals therefore their medical bills can be anywhere from $20 to $60 if they do become ill.
Their status as exotic animals does put them at risk in terms of medical needs – especially during pregnancy. To minimize these risks, hygiene is of utmost importance, as is daily monitoring.
Space requirements:
Guinea pigs are very sociable. They have to have at least one other guinea pig for company. If you are breeding, that should go without saying.
The main reason I am mentioning this, is for you to tell your buyers this, and encourage them to take 2 from you when you sell directly. If you sell to a pet shop, you will not be able to market them this way.
A pair of guinea pigs will need 7.5 square feet.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Timothy hay Orchard or oat grass Fresh fruit Fresh vegetables Pellets Bedding (must be replaced every 3 to 4 days to prevent illness) Food bowls Water bowls Shelter Toys A cage or run Ducks for Profit
Duck farming is a quick and very easy way to make money.
If you do choose to farm ducks for their meat and eggs, you will need to contact your local food administration board, and find out about local laws regarding the sale of consumables.
You will also most likely need to register your company or yourself if you want to sell for eggs, ducklings, ducks, or meat.
The most popular ducks to breed for the food market are Peking ducks. Originally a stable source of protein in Asian countries, Peking ducks took the world by storm.
Many restaurants – especially specialty restaurants and upper class, fancy restaurants – now have duck on their menu’s.
Many people keep ducks just for their cuteness. They certainly are adorable. But they produce the tastiest meat and eggs, and their feathers are used to make the softest down feather duvets and pillows.
They are also hardy animals, and can handle the heat of summer and the cold of winter.
They are an easy and inexpensive way to bring in money.
Caution: It is very important that you sex your ducks when buying them. You should always get 4 to 5 ducks per drake. Drakes can wear a girl out, leading to death or serious injury if there are more than 1 male.
What your breeding pair will cost:
If you want to ease into duck ownership, ducklings can be bought for $2 to $10. Adult ducks cost upward of $10, depending on the breed.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Ducklings begin to wander about outside when they are 3 to 5 weeks old; however, they cannot regulate their own body temperature until they are 7 to 9 weeks old.
They will need heat from the sun, shelter from the rain, and/or a heater of some kind.
They can be sold within 2 to 3 weeks old.
If you are raising ducks for the meat market the duck should be sold between 7 to 8 weeks, as the feathers are easier to pluck at this age. Normally the duck should weigh roughly 6.25lbs when they are slaughtered.
What the cost will be per day:
From hatching to sale, it will cost roughly $9.50 to $11.25 per duck. That boils down to $0.15 per duck per day.
Space requirements:
Ducklings require less space than adults because they huddle together to heat when they are small.
From hatching to 4 weeks, they only require 1 square foot per duckling. From 4 to 8 weeks that should increase to 3 square feet. When they reach adulthood – 8 weeks when they are ready to be sold – they require 16 square feet per duck.
If you are breeding for eggs or pets, your ducks will require at least 4 square feet per duck.
With ducks, the larger the better, especially if you are breeding. You want to have enough room for the ducks to separate themselves from the amorous drakes (males) when they have a ‘headache’.
Mating is quite a violent act; your ducks will need lots of space for this so that they do not get hurt. You also need the space for exercise.
Your coop should allow 4 to 6 square feet per bird. And your outdoor play area should be 10 to 20 square feet per animal.
What you will need in terms of resources:
A coop An outdoor play area Covered areas outside for shade Bedding Food consisting of worms, fish, aquatic plants, bugs, snails, toads, cribs, and mash or pellets Raising Bees for Money
Bees have become a topic of concern globally. They are the best pollinators nature has gifted us, but we humans have been killing bees unintentionally with chemicals for decades to the extent that 17 species are extinct, 25 species are at risk of becoming extinct, and 31 species are considered highly threatened.
The world needs responsible beekeepers to ensure the pollination of our food supply. This means a lot of educating needs to take place as well.
The honey from bees is not something that they are gifting to us. We are literally stealing their own food supply from their hives! But dang, it tastes so good!
Honey is also a natural antibiotic – I use it in my own home for this purpose, anyone who sneezes or coughs or just looks mildly off color is issued a bottle of honey to drink throughout the course of the day and night.
By morning they are right as rain. It is also used for other medical purposes like wound care and as an ingredient in cough medicine.
What your colony will cost:
In the case of bees, the only bee that you can buy individually is the queen bee. The queen can cost you $25 to $32. She is gifted with a much longer lifespan than the rest of the hive, living for 3 to 5 years.
You only need 1 queen per hive; if you introduce more than one, the workers will kill the queen they least respect.
The rest of the bees are sold as a colony. The colony will cost you $125 to $175 for packaged worker bees. A simpler root will not cost much more than a package of bees.
You can buy an established nucleus colony complete with a queen, workers, and 5 frames with honey, nectar, and brood cells. A nucleus colony will cost $150 to $200.
There is another way that skips over these costs; you could easily trap a colony by giving them a warm dry hive to settle in.
How long it takes to profit from your bees:
Profiting off of bees is a little more complex than just selling babies. Your profits come from 4 different sources:
Selling any spare queens – can be done anytime you hatch one Selling off colonies when you split them (when the hive becomes overcrowded) – can be done 5 to 6 times a year, however, some colonies struggle and cannot be split that often in a year Harvesting honey to sell – honey can be harvested up to 6 times in a year Bees can be hired out to farmers to pollinate their crops; beware of pesticides though, make sure the farmer does not use any on his crops
What the cost will be per day:
Beekeeping has an intimidating cost for starters. Buying all the equipment you need and buying the bees can set you back $400 to $460.
However, that is if you pay for your bees rather than trapping them, and it includes the once off payments for smokers, gloves, hats, suits, hives, etc.
Once you have set up your hives, the bees will feed themselves on pollen; the only thing you really need to do is inspect the hives regularly and treat for disease or infestations.
Space requirements:
Because hives are boxes and can be stacked, the area needed for the actual hives is very small. They travel miles to collect pollen and nectar.
However much space you have got will work just fine.
What you will need in terms of resources, veterinary care, food, bowls, bedding, etc.
You will need:
Beehive Smoker Bee brush Hive tool Veil or full bee suit Gloves Honey extractor Frames Queen catcher or excluder Thick mud shoes A little drop of essential oil to encourage the colony not to leave, they love the smell of lemongrass best, but lavender, lemon, and mint will also do the trick Feeders Sugar to help boost the bees when they are looking lethargic A queen marker to keep her visible for inspections
Selling price for the offspring, services, and honey:
Beekeepers charge between $165 to $240 per colony for crop pollination.
Many beekeepers provide training services to guide newcomers to this vital service that keeps our food source going.
You could charge roughly $160 per person attending a training session. I would limit classes to 10 to 15 students at a time. I also suggest spreading the training over 2 weeks as there is a lot to cover. This could bring in roughly $48000 per year.
Additionally, many beekeepers make a little extra by building and selling equipment like hives and smokers. Hives cost $150 and are really quick and easy to make.
Breeding Horses for Profit
Breeding horses can be one of the most lucrative ways to make money. But, beware! The money in horses is strictly based on the breed and bloodline.
Simply putting a herd of horses together in a pasture is likely to cost more and more, and not bring in enough to cover the costs of the foal even.
The equine world is full of irresponsible backyard breeders who don’t care which horse mates with who on the playground.
They are feeding all the fanciful little girls’ dreams of wanting to own a horse. But these fanciful dreams are often abandoned in fields and pastures.
The money is on show horses, racing horses, and endurance horses.
I am not going to cover racehorses in this article. These horses are often very cruelly treated, and unethically bred.
Responsible breeders breed to have a foal to use in future competitions, to continue a specific bloodline, because a horse has a good temperament, and has a good competition record.
Decide what you want to breed horses for, and then do research about the best breed for the job.
Remember this: Horse ownership is hard work; BREEDING is a whole other animal! It is hard work, and it costs a lot of money.
If you do decide to breed horses, I can tell you now, you are in for a lot of laughs. Every single time I see my horse he makes me laugh at least once during the visit.
They are highly intelligent, powerful animals with a very goofy side. They often repeat behavior just because of your reaction to the situation.
What your breeding pair will cost:
For show horses, I use Friesians as my breed of choice, as they are one of the most breathtaking breeds. Most dressage riders choose to use Frisians because of their grace and beauty.
A Friesian horse costs anywhere between $25,000 to $50,000. If you are breeding for show, you will definitely want horses on the upper end of the price range. Your pair will cost you $80,000.
For endurance horses, I will use Arabians as they are the most popular horses for endurance because of their incredible ability to go long distances and be consistent in their performance. Arabs cost $500 to $155,000.
Again, if you are a serious breeder you will want to buy horses on the upper end, your breeding pair will cost roughly $300,000.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Most horses are weaned from their mothers at 4 to 7 months of age. They are sold at a specific age; however, they can be sold when they are 3 to 6 months old.
Many serious buyers will wait until the horse is 2 years old because their appearance and nature are clearer, and it is easier to determine whether the horse will meet the buyer’s needs.
What the cost will be per day:
Keeping a horse can cost $200 to $325 per month. This amounts to roughly $10 per horse per day.
How large an area you will need:
The amount of space needed per horse is 1.5 to 2 acres. However, this is a minimum for exercise. It is critically important that the pastures are well stocked with good quality grazing.
If the grazing is not good, you may need double or even triple that amount of space per horse, or you will need to supplement the grazing with hay – especially in the winter months.
What you will need in terms of resources:
A large property Good grazing A lunging arena for exercise Stables – each horse’s stall should be 12 square feet Lunging rein Lead reins A bridle Fly masks Blankets for cold weather Outdoor shelter from the weather Bit Saddle Saddle blanket Well-fitting girth strap Stirrups Brushes Hoof pick A trainer if you are not one yourself A large water trough Large food bowl Bedding A pitch fork A stable broom A wheelbarrow Hay Horse feed consisting of pellets, mixed grass, molasses, and beet An air and moisture proof barrel for food storage to keep it fresh, healthy, and away from rodents and other food thieves Good riding boots Jocks A high-quality riding cap – I cannot stress the importance of this enough; every time you fall off a horse – whether you hit your head or not – you need to replace your riding cap. Many owners either purchase, rent, or share a horsebox; for breeders, endurance, and show horses a horsebox is vital
Selling price for the offspring:
The selling price for a horse varies for different breeds, bloodline, the horse’s attitude and looks, and purpose of the buyer.
You can expect to sell Friesian offspring for $25,000 to $50,000 each. For Arabian horses that are bred for more than just recreation, you can expect to sell the offspring for $80,000 to $150,000.
Breeders also make money by selling semen or covering other breeder’s females. If you do this, I recommend intense medical assessment before allowing your stallion to cover another stables mares.
There are illnesses invisible to the eye that are carried by mares. Some of which will render your stallion infertile.
Cattle
Breeding cattle is a lucrative enterprise, whether you are breeding for meat, dairy or show. The biggest breeding for profit animals are beef cattle.
If you are breeding for dairy or for human consumption, you will need to contact your municipality to learn everything you can about bylaws and registration with the food safety board.
They have a specific set of rules to ensure that anything consumed meets all their health, humane, and the impact on the environment standards.
Here is something you may not know: cattle are bred to enter into show competitions.
Cattle are not easy to breed, raise, and sell. The 2 biggest concerns are feeding the animals and keeping the herd healthy in compliance with food and safety regulations.
What your breeding herd will cost:
The overall ratio of bulls to cows is 1 bull for every 20 to 30 cows. This means your initial expense purchasing a breeding herd will be significantly higher than any other animals to breed for profit on this list. If you have the money, you will very quickly make it back with interest.
You can expect to pay $2,100 to $5,000 for a bull and $2,000 to $5,000 for a cow.
Considering that you need 1 bull and 30 females, with the cost of $4000 per female, your first breeding herd will cost $125000. Fancy breeds will cost more.
How long it takes to raise a baby to slaughtering age:
Calves need at least a year to grow big enough, or I should rather say until they weigh enough. You do not want to sell off a calf too soon. It needs to weigh 500 to 1,000 pounds.
What the cost will be per day:
The cost per day is greatly entwined with the grazing they have access to. Especially in the winter months when the grass is dead and dry.
It will cost roughly $500 to $1,000 from birth to slaughter at a weight of 500 to 1000 pounds. It will cost $1 per head of cattle per day.
How large an area you will need:
Cattle need 500 to 800 square feet each. Grazing is of utmost importance. It will either cost a lot of money buying food, grass and hay, or it will limit the number of animals able to thrive is the grazing is not good.
What you will need in terms of resources:
A big property Feed Shelter Access to water Feed station Health care equipment – vaccines, hoof picks Fencing tunnels for vaccines and health checks
Selling price for the offspring for slaughter:
The sale of beef cattle is based on the weight of the animals. The average amount of money you can earn is $140 per 100 pounds.
Since cattle need to be at least 500 to 1000 pounds, you should get at least $700 per head.
Conclusion
If you are planning on breeding for financial benefit, you need to register your business and pay your taxes so that you do not lose everything because of tax evasion.
There are too many backyard breeders, lazy breeders, puppy mills, and people who are not complying with the basic, ethical behavior that sets the wheel of animals suffering in motion.
Be better than that. Do better than your best in your treatment and sale of your animals.
The post Top 10 Animals You Can Breed for Money appeared first on The Homesteading Hippy.
#Homesteading
My first medical service dog was a purebred golden retriever. I got him as a pup, and paid a whopping $969 for him as a potty-trained pup. His dad was the national dog of the year 9 years in a row, and mom was national bitch of the year 2 years in a row.
The breeder also selected who would get which pup and went to great pains to appropriately match for both owners and pups needs.
From when he was a week old, he was assessed by an animal psychiatrist every day. He was assessed to be the quietest and most intelligent of the litter. He was also fully vaccinated.
The incredible time and effort she put into breeding the ideal, healthy dog and then matching him with me made the job of training him so easy. He really was the perfect dog. Well-worth every penny.
There is money in breeding animals. Unfortunately, there are breeders out there running puppy mills, just allowing animals to get pregnant over and over because they are too cheap to spend money on sterilization, or they just don’t have a clue what they are doing.
If you give due diligence to what you are doing, and understand all the aspects of breeding, and have a realistic income in mind, you can definitely make money through breeding. You will need to know:
What your breeding pair will cost How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age What the cost will be per day to raise the offspring to selling age/weight How large an area you will need for breeding and raising the animals What you will need in terms of resources, veterinary care, food, bowls, bedding, etc. And finally, what you can sell the animals for, i.e., to determine profitability take what you will sell the animal for and subtract what it will cost to breed and raise the animal
So, let us look at what animals can ethically bring in money, and will be best suited to your living conditions! You do not have to have a big farm for several of these.
Summary of Expenses and Profit Animal # of Animals Needed to Start a Business Setup Costs Purchase and Selling price Per Animal Daily Cost Per Animal How Old Offspring Are for Sale and/or Products Sold Profit Opportunities After Start-Up Chickens 2 roosters 10 hens $5000 $5 – $20 per 10 weeks old $3 – $5 per day old chick $0.12 day old 10 weeks One chicken usually produces a clutch of 12 chicks
Sold for $5 day old’s Sold for $20 at 10 weeks
$1.27 per dozen eggs Rabbits 2 bucks 10 does $300 $20 per rabbit $1.13 6 – 8 weeks 1 litter is 7 – 15 kittens Sold for $20
The fertilizer can be sold for $5 to $15 per pound Mice 5 males 10 females $300 $20 per mouse $0.90 18 days 1 mouse produces a litter of 6 – 8 babies
Sold for $20 per mouse Goats 1 male 30 females $3000 $100 per goat $2.80 3 – 5 months Each female produces 1 – 5 kids at a time A female gives birth up to 7 times per year
Each kid is sold for $100 Sale of extra milk $4.50 per gallon Alpacas 5 males 30 females $50000 $3000 – $10000 $1.00 14 – 16 months Most pregnancies result in 1 baby, but the female gives birth at least 10 times in her life Selling price = $3000 per alpaca
Each alpaca produces roughly 3 – 10 pounds of wool per year, the wool is sold for between $2 to $3 per ounce
Sale of manure at $15 for 15 pounds
Meat sells on the exotic food market at +/- $50 dollars per 16 ounces Guinea Pigs 5 males 30 females $600 $20 $0.60 21 days A female produces 1 – 8 pups in a Sold at $20 per guinea pig Ducks 6 drakes 30 ducks $5000 $2 – $10 per duckling or duck $0.15 2 – 3 weeks 1 duck produces 1 – 2 eggs per day; of these she will sit on +/- 12 eggs at a time to hatch
Duck eggs are sold for about $1 each. A dozen eggs will net you $12
Each duck or duckling sells for $2 – $10 Bees 1 queen 1 colony $300 $25 – $32 for 1 queen $175 – $200 per established colony $0.2 6 months Income of $600 – $800 per colony for honey
Production and sale of hives $15 per hive Rental for crop pollination $240 per hive
Facilitating training at $160 per person Horses 1 stallion 40 mares $1640000 $500 – $155500 $10.00 3 – 6 months A Friesian mare produces +/- 16 foals in her lifetime
Friesian horses sell for $25000 – $50000 An Arabian mare has +/- 16 foals in her lifetime Arabian horses sell for $80,000 – $150,000
Sale of semen or cost for stallion to cover a mare $1500 – $1million Cattle 1 bull 30 cows $125000 $2000 – $5000 per head $520 – $905 from birth to slaughter 1000 pounds Selling price per yearling $800 – $1500
Selling price per 100-pound head $700 Chicken Raising for Profit
Chickens are a logical choice, as they are always in demand. I have owned and run a commercial chicken farm, selling primarily for consumption, but also for eggs.
They are easy to raise but they come with one major snag: health in their runs. I was religious about the health of my chickens, cleaning every pen every time I sold off the stock, and with a 2-meter foot bath to get into the runs.
Everything went splendidly until, one day when I was not present, a spy from another farm snuck in to see how I was doing it. The jerk jumped over the footbath because he didn’t want to get his feet wet! As a result, my chickens developed Newcastle’s Disease, and I had to close my business for 2 years!
Be aware of who is on your property, and do not allow visitors near your pens. This is true for all the animals on this list, always ensure the safety of the animals above the curiosity of visitors.
If you are breeding for consumption, make sure you are set up, are compliant with and registered with the USDA’s Food safety and Inspection Service regulations.
What your breeding pair will cost:
Both a rooster and a hen will cost between $5 and $30 depending on the specific breed.
If you want to raise your own chickens from chicks the chicks will cost $3 to $5 each.
You will have to sex them before buying to make sure you have both hens and roosters. You should always have 4 hens per rooster.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Chickens are ready to sell for slaughter when they are 10 weeks old, or they can be sold as day old chicks.
What the cost will be per day:
Your daily cost to feed a chicken is about $0.12, depending on the food you choose to use. Organic food is much more expensive, it costs about $0.60 per day.
How large an area you will need for breeding and raising the animals
The size of the chicken run depends entirely on how big you want your operation to be. If you only have 5 chickens to breed with, you will need a very small run. In the coop you will need 2 square feet per bird, and outside the run should be 8 – 10 square feet per bird.
If you are running a large-scale operation, you will need separate runs for each batch, and each run should be 60 square feet to house 50 chickens. This is for raising chickens for consumption.
It is healthier for the chickens, and it affects the taste of both the meat and the eggs, if they are free-range. This means they have a large outdoor area where they can forage and scratch about.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Runs or outdoor pens Water dishes Feeders Natural supplements to ensure healthy birds (e.g., OxyE-100, Zyfend, and HealthyFlock) A footbath that is at least 2 meters wide and 2 meters long in front of the door or gate Lots of disinfectant Raising Rabbits for Profit
Rabbits are very easy to breed with, because, well… they breed like… rabbits .
They are popular pets, but they are also popular food. If you are raising for pets, they do not need to be with you for long, just until they are weaned from their moms at 4 to 6 weeks old.
Rabbits are very profitable because they have large litters, grow quickly, and reach breeding age faster than most other animals.
What your breeding pair will cost:
The cost per rabbit can vary greatly depending on the breed and where you get your rabbits from. If you get the rabbit from a rescue group, you can expect to pay $5 to $20. If you buy from a pet shop, you can expect to pay $20 to $30, and if you buy a specific breed from a breeder you can expect to pay $100 or more.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Rabbits can be sold between 6 to 8 weeks old.
What the cost will be per day:
Feeding and housing rabbits costs roughly $1.13 per day, therefore your monthly cost will be about $40.
How large an area you will need:
If you have a breeding pair, you will require a cage or hutch that is at the very least 12 square feet, and a run of at least 27 square feet.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Pellets Bedding Hay Vegetables Treats Toys
Raising Mice for Money
Mice make great pets, they are intelligent, and can be quite affectionate, therefore, they are in demand. However, a pet is not the only reason pet shops sell them. They are largely sold as food for snakes and other animals that prey on small animals.
I’m a bit of a softy, so I will just imagine you in your lovely home, raising sweet little pets for all the children in your neighborhood.
They make great pets because they do not take up a lot of space, so many parents opt to start their kids, who are begging for ponies, on a mouse instead.
What your breeding pair will cost:
A breeding pair will cost between $10 to $20. Make sure you have one male and one female before you buy them.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Mice are ready to start breeding when they are 6 weeks old, but you should not breed with your females until they are 8 to 12 weeks old – let them be kids for a while. Their babies mature very quickly and can be sold when they are just 18 days old.
The female will continue to breed all year long.
What the cost will be per day:
Mice are very inexpensive to raise, you can expect to pay $0.90 to $3 per mouse per day.
How large an area you will need:
If you just have one male and one female, you will need a cage that is at least 20 X 20 inches (60 x 50 centimeters) floorspace, and is 10 inches (30 centimeters) tall – they are escape artists!
If you want to get serious with breeding, you will need more than one female. The correct sizing of the cage is based on the number of mice in the tank.
For the first mouse, the tank should be 20 x 10 inches. After that, for each mouse you add, you should add 16 x 8 inches in floorspace.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Cage or tank Bedding A secure mouse carrier Food bowls Water bowls An exercise wheel Toys A tunnel or nest they can go into to rest Goats for Profit
If you have the space – and your flower beds are well protected – goats are a great source of income. Many households across the world are switching from cows’ milk to goats’ milk.
I have some experience with goat milk and all the uses for it because my preemie son was allergic to everything but goat milk.
You can make ice cream, yogurt, cheese, milkshakes, everything you can make from dairy milk. The difference is in the taste of everything. Goat milk has a significantly higher cream and fat content and is much sweeter than cow’s milk.
Goats are also raised for consumption. Although it is more expensive than beef, it is delicious and can make a fantastic meal for special occasions.
What your breeding pair will cost:
Purebred goats and females are more expensive than males, and depending on where you buy your goats from, you can expect to pay $100 to $800 per goat.
The male can be paired with 30 – 40 females, raising the income significantly.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Kids are normally sold when they are 3 to 5 months old.
What the cost will be per day:
Raising goats costs about $2.80 per day. That is based on your breeding goats; the kids will be less, especially while they are drinking from their moms.
How large an area you will need for breeding and raising the animals:
If you are going large-scale straight off, with 50 goats you will need 10 acres of land.
However, if you plan on starting small and building your herd as you go, you will need 70 square feet. Some of this property needs to be roofed for sleeping and escaping wet weather, but the ability to move around and browse for food is very important too.
What you will need in terms of resources:
An enclosed pen Hay bales, empty crates, old tractor tires – anything they can jump on to play Plenty of vegetation Bedding made of straw, shavings, hay, shredded paper, or corn cobs Shelter from wind, sun, and rain Toys Raising Alpacas for Money
Alpacas are rapidly becoming a common farm animal.
They are profitable for a number of reasons. They are primarily sold for their fleece (wool). They are shaved for their wool once a year, and each alpaca produces at least 4 pounds of wool. The wool is sold mainly to producers of alpaca products.
They are lovely, loyal pets that are very sociable, and interact freely with most other animals. They are not very keen on being petted, but do love the occasional neck scratch.
Often nature conservation reserves rent alpacas to hikers in their reserve to carry heavy packs and supplies. They are very calm and have no trouble with weight bearing.
Their poop is also sold as a high-quality manure. They poop roughly 4 pounds a day! They are also kind enough to poop in the same spot every day, so collecting the manure is quick and easy.
What your breeding pair will cost:
You are most likely to pay $3,000 to $10,000 per alpaca. However, backyard accidents are often sold for $250.
If you want a specific breed and you are pinning your hopes on personality, the quality of the wool, and how the animals look, you could pay as much as $50,000.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Alpacas are normally sold when they reach breeding age, at 14 to 16 months old. Because they are bred for their wool, the age of the alpaca you sell is not really a factor.
The price is based on the genealogy, looks, and quality of the fiber. Therefore, it is better to wait until they are breeding age as breeders and farmers will want to see what they are paying for.
Daily costs:
To raise 3 alpacas will cost roughly $1,100 per year – that is roughly $1 / day / alpaca.
How large an area you will need:
Alpacas need roughly 1 acre for every 5 to 8 animals depending on weather, terrain, and grass available. If you do not have very lush grass in the pastures, you can either supplement with hay or allow more land per animal.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Healthy pastures Hay Shelter from the weather Access to water A shearing shed (optional) a sorting shed for the wool (optional) a weaving shed for wool Raising Guinea Pigs for Profit
Guinea pigs were originally bred for their meat as well as for medicinal purposes during certain religious ceremonies. They are still bred for human consumption, but they have also become profitable in other ways.
Guinea pigs are great for pets, they can be very sweet natured.
They are also part of a huge show industry, where prizes are low, but the sense of community is high. Breed and movement are not of great value in most shows. They are judged on how cute they are, their grooming, and personality. Perfect for pet owners of all ages.
What your breeding pair will cost:
Guinea pigs sell for $10 to $40 each, but you could pay more for the fancier breeds.
You will also need roughly $100 to buy everything you need to set up your guinea pig’s new home.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Guinea pigs are normally weaned within 2 – 3 weeks. The maximum time they would need with mom is 21 days. They are then ready for sale.
What the cost will be per day:
For at least 2 days, the pups get their food from mom exclusively. After that they will begin nibbling on different pellets and fresh produce.
You can expect to spend roughly $40 per month for food, bedding, and medical expenses per breeding pair. That works out at $0.60 per animal per day.
You should set aside at least $5 per month to save for vet bills. They are exotic animals therefore their medical bills can be anywhere from $20 to $60 if they do become ill.
Their status as exotic animals does put them at risk in terms of medical needs – especially during pregnancy. To minimize these risks, hygiene is of utmost importance, as is daily monitoring.
Space requirements:
Guinea pigs are very sociable. They have to have at least one other guinea pig for company. If you are breeding, that should go without saying.
The main reason I am mentioning this, is for you to tell your buyers this, and encourage them to take 2 from you when you sell directly. If you sell to a pet shop, you will not be able to market them this way.
A pair of guinea pigs will need 7.5 square feet.
What you will need in terms of resources:
Timothy hay Orchard or oat grass Fresh fruit Fresh vegetables Pellets Bedding (must be replaced every 3 to 4 days to prevent illness) Food bowls Water bowls Shelter Toys A cage or run Ducks for Profit
Duck farming is a quick and very easy way to make money.
If you do choose to farm ducks for their meat and eggs, you will need to contact your local food administration board, and find out about local laws regarding the sale of consumables.
You will also most likely need to register your company or yourself if you want to sell for eggs, ducklings, ducks, or meat.
The most popular ducks to breed for the food market are Peking ducks. Originally a stable source of protein in Asian countries, Peking ducks took the world by storm.
Many restaurants – especially specialty restaurants and upper class, fancy restaurants – now have duck on their menu’s.
Many people keep ducks just for their cuteness. They certainly are adorable. But they produce the tastiest meat and eggs, and their feathers are used to make the softest down feather duvets and pillows.
They are also hardy animals, and can handle the heat of summer and the cold of winter.
They are an easy and inexpensive way to bring in money.
Caution: It is very important that you sex your ducks when buying them. You should always get 4 to 5 ducks per drake. Drakes can wear a girl out, leading to death or serious injury if there are more than 1 male.
What your breeding pair will cost:
If you want to ease into duck ownership, ducklings can be bought for $2 to $10. Adult ducks cost upward of $10, depending on the breed.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Ducklings begin to wander about outside when they are 3 to 5 weeks old; however, they cannot regulate their own body temperature until they are 7 to 9 weeks old.
They will need heat from the sun, shelter from the rain, and/or a heater of some kind.
They can be sold within 2 to 3 weeks old.
If you are raising ducks for the meat market the duck should be sold between 7 to 8 weeks, as the feathers are easier to pluck at this age. Normally the duck should weigh roughly 6.25lbs when they are slaughtered.
What the cost will be per day:
From hatching to sale, it will cost roughly $9.50 to $11.25 per duck. That boils down to $0.15 per duck per day.
Space requirements:
Ducklings require less space than adults because they huddle together to heat when they are small.
From hatching to 4 weeks, they only require 1 square foot per duckling. From 4 to 8 weeks that should increase to 3 square feet. When they reach adulthood – 8 weeks when they are ready to be sold – they require 16 square feet per duck.
If you are breeding for eggs or pets, your ducks will require at least 4 square feet per duck.
With ducks, the larger the better, especially if you are breeding. You want to have enough room for the ducks to separate themselves from the amorous drakes (males) when they have a ‘headache’.
Mating is quite a violent act; your ducks will need lots of space for this so that they do not get hurt. You also need the space for exercise.
Your coop should allow 4 to 6 square feet per bird. And your outdoor play area should be 10 to 20 square feet per animal.
What you will need in terms of resources:
A coop An outdoor play area Covered areas outside for shade Bedding Food consisting of worms, fish, aquatic plants, bugs, snails, toads, cribs, and mash or pellets Raising Bees for Money
Bees have become a topic of concern globally. They are the best pollinators nature has gifted us, but we humans have been killing bees unintentionally with chemicals for decades to the extent that 17 species are extinct, 25 species are at risk of becoming extinct, and 31 species are considered highly threatened.
The world needs responsible beekeepers to ensure the pollination of our food supply. This means a lot of educating needs to take place as well.
The honey from bees is not something that they are gifting to us. We are literally stealing their own food supply from their hives! But dang, it tastes so good!
Honey is also a natural antibiotic – I use it in my own home for this purpose, anyone who sneezes or coughs or just looks mildly off color is issued a bottle of honey to drink throughout the course of the day and night.
By morning they are right as rain. It is also used for other medical purposes like wound care and as an ingredient in cough medicine.
What your colony will cost:
In the case of bees, the only bee that you can buy individually is the queen bee. The queen can cost you $25 to $32. She is gifted with a much longer lifespan than the rest of the hive, living for 3 to 5 years.
You only need 1 queen per hive; if you introduce more than one, the workers will kill the queen they least respect.
The rest of the bees are sold as a colony. The colony will cost you $125 to $175 for packaged worker bees. A simpler root will not cost much more than a package of bees.
You can buy an established nucleus colony complete with a queen, workers, and 5 frames with honey, nectar, and brood cells. A nucleus colony will cost $150 to $200.
There is another way that skips over these costs; you could easily trap a colony by giving them a warm dry hive to settle in.
How long it takes to profit from your bees:
Profiting off of bees is a little more complex than just selling babies. Your profits come from 4 different sources:
Selling any spare queens – can be done anytime you hatch one Selling off colonies when you split them (when the hive becomes overcrowded) – can be done 5 to 6 times a year, however, some colonies struggle and cannot be split that often in a year Harvesting honey to sell – honey can be harvested up to 6 times in a year Bees can be hired out to farmers to pollinate their crops; beware of pesticides though, make sure the farmer does not use any on his crops
What the cost will be per day:
Beekeeping has an intimidating cost for starters. Buying all the equipment you need and buying the bees can set you back $400 to $460.
However, that is if you pay for your bees rather than trapping them, and it includes the once off payments for smokers, gloves, hats, suits, hives, etc.
Once you have set up your hives, the bees will feed themselves on pollen; the only thing you really need to do is inspect the hives regularly and treat for disease or infestations.
Space requirements:
Because hives are boxes and can be stacked, the area needed for the actual hives is very small. They travel miles to collect pollen and nectar.
However much space you have got will work just fine.
What you will need in terms of resources, veterinary care, food, bowls, bedding, etc.
You will need:
Beehive Smoker Bee brush Hive tool Veil or full bee suit Gloves Honey extractor Frames Queen catcher or excluder Thick mud shoes A little drop of essential oil to encourage the colony not to leave, they love the smell of lemongrass best, but lavender, lemon, and mint will also do the trick Feeders Sugar to help boost the bees when they are looking lethargic A queen marker to keep her visible for inspections
Selling price for the offspring, services, and honey:
Beekeepers charge between $165 to $240 per colony for crop pollination.
Many beekeepers provide training services to guide newcomers to this vital service that keeps our food source going.
You could charge roughly $160 per person attending a training session. I would limit classes to 10 to 15 students at a time. I also suggest spreading the training over 2 weeks as there is a lot to cover. This could bring in roughly $48000 per year.
Additionally, many beekeepers make a little extra by building and selling equipment like hives and smokers. Hives cost $150 and are really quick and easy to make.
Breeding Horses for Profit
Breeding horses can be one of the most lucrative ways to make money. But, beware! The money in horses is strictly based on the breed and bloodline.
Simply putting a herd of horses together in a pasture is likely to cost more and more, and not bring in enough to cover the costs of the foal even.
The equine world is full of irresponsible backyard breeders who don’t care which horse mates with who on the playground.
They are feeding all the fanciful little girls’ dreams of wanting to own a horse. But these fanciful dreams are often abandoned in fields and pastures.
The money is on show horses, racing horses, and endurance horses.
I am not going to cover racehorses in this article. These horses are often very cruelly treated, and unethically bred.
Responsible breeders breed to have a foal to use in future competitions, to continue a specific bloodline, because a horse has a good temperament, and has a good competition record.
Decide what you want to breed horses for, and then do research about the best breed for the job.
Remember this: Horse ownership is hard work; BREEDING is a whole other animal! It is hard work, and it costs a lot of money.
If you do decide to breed horses, I can tell you now, you are in for a lot of laughs. Every single time I see my horse he makes me laugh at least once during the visit.
They are highly intelligent, powerful animals with a very goofy side. They often repeat behavior just because of your reaction to the situation.
What your breeding pair will cost:
For show horses, I use Friesians as my breed of choice, as they are one of the most breathtaking breeds. Most dressage riders choose to use Frisians because of their grace and beauty.
A Friesian horse costs anywhere between $25,000 to $50,000. If you are breeding for show, you will definitely want horses on the upper end of the price range. Your pair will cost you $80,000.
For endurance horses, I will use Arabians as they are the most popular horses for endurance because of their incredible ability to go long distances and be consistent in their performance. Arabs cost $500 to $155,000.
Again, if you are a serious breeder you will want to buy horses on the upper end, your breeding pair will cost roughly $300,000.
How long it takes to raise a baby to selling age:
Most horses are weaned from their mothers at 4 to 7 months of age. They are sold at a specific age; however, they can be sold when they are 3 to 6 months old.
Many serious buyers will wait until the horse is 2 years old because their appearance and nature are clearer, and it is easier to determine whether the horse will meet the buyer’s needs.
What the cost will be per day:
Keeping a horse can cost $200 to $325 per month. This amounts to roughly $10 per horse per day.
How large an area you will need:
The amount of space needed per horse is 1.5 to 2 acres. However, this is a minimum for exercise. It is critically important that the pastures are well stocked with good quality grazing.
If the grazing is not good, you may need double or even triple that amount of space per horse, or you will need to supplement the grazing with hay – especially in the winter months.
What you will need in terms of resources:
A large property Good grazing A lunging arena for exercise Stables – each horse’s stall should be 12 square feet Lunging rein Lead reins A bridle Fly masks Blankets for cold weather Outdoor shelter from the weather Bit Saddle Saddle blanket Well-fitting girth strap Stirrups Brushes Hoof pick A trainer if you are not one yourself A large water trough Large food bowl Bedding A pitch fork A stable broom A wheelbarrow Hay Horse feed consisting of pellets, mixed grass, molasses, and beet An air and moisture proof barrel for food storage to keep it fresh, healthy, and away from rodents and other food thieves Good riding boots Jocks A high-quality riding cap – I cannot stress the importance of this enough; every time you fall off a horse – whether you hit your head or not – you need to replace your riding cap. Many owners either purchase, rent, or share a horsebox; for breeders, endurance, and show horses a horsebox is vital
Selling price for the offspring:
The selling price for a horse varies for different breeds, bloodline, the horse’s attitude and looks, and purpose of the buyer.
You can expect to sell Friesian offspring for $25,000 to $50,000 each. For Arabian horses that are bred for more than just recreation, you can expect to sell the offspring for $80,000 to $150,000.
Breeders also make money by selling semen or covering other breeder’s females. If you do this, I recommend intense medical assessment before allowing your stallion to cover another stables mares.
There are illnesses invisible to the eye that are carried by mares. Some of which will render your stallion infertile.
Cattle
Breeding cattle is a lucrative enterprise, whether you are breeding for meat, dairy or show. The biggest breeding for profit animals are beef cattle.
If you are breeding for dairy or for human consumption, you will need to contact your municipality to learn everything you can about bylaws and registration with the food safety board.
They have a specific set of rules to ensure that anything consumed meets all their health, humane, and the impact on the environment standards.
Here is something you may not know: cattle are bred to enter into show competitions.
Cattle are not easy to breed, raise, and sell. The 2 biggest concerns are feeding the animals and keeping the herd healthy in compliance with food and safety regulations.
What your breeding herd will cost:
The overall ratio of bulls to cows is 1 bull for every 20 to 30 cows. This means your initial expense purchasing a breeding herd will be significantly higher than any other animals to breed for profit on this list. If you have the money, you will very quickly make it back with interest.
You can expect to pay $2,100 to $5,000 for a bull and $2,000 to $5,000 for a cow.
Considering that you need 1 bull and 30 females, with the cost of $4000 per female, your first breeding herd will cost $125000. Fancy breeds will cost more.
How long it takes to raise a baby to slaughtering age:
Calves need at least a year to grow big enough, or I should rather say until they weigh enough. You do not want to sell off a calf too soon. It needs to weigh 500 to 1,000 pounds.
What the cost will be per day:
The cost per day is greatly entwined with the grazing they have access to. Especially in the winter months when the grass is dead and dry.
It will cost roughly $500 to $1,000 from birth to slaughter at a weight of 500 to 1000 pounds. It will cost $1 per head of cattle per day.
How large an area you will need:
Cattle need 500 to 800 square feet each. Grazing is of utmost importance. It will either cost a lot of money buying food, grass and hay, or it will limit the number of animals able to thrive is the grazing is not good.
What you will need in terms of resources:
A big property Feed Shelter Access to water Feed station Health care equipment – vaccines, hoof picks Fencing tunnels for vaccines and health checks
Selling price for the offspring for slaughter:
The sale of beef cattle is based on the weight of the animals. The average amount of money you can earn is $140 per 100 pounds.
Since cattle need to be at least 500 to 1000 pounds, you should get at least $700 per head.
Conclusion
If you are planning on breeding for financial benefit, you need to register your business and pay your taxes so that you do not lose everything because of tax evasion.
There are too many backyard breeders, lazy breeders, puppy mills, and people who are not complying with the basic, ethical behavior that sets the wheel of animals suffering in motion.
Be better than that. Do better than your best in your treatment and sale of your animals.
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