recordkeeping, marketing and economics goats 101 sheep & goat toolbox

Recordkeeping, Marketing and EconomicsGoats 101 • Sheep & Goat Toolbox

• Records are important!!!• Keep records that you will use• Types of records

– Breeding/kidding– Health– Economic (costs, sales)

Recordkeeping

http://www.sheep101.info/201/Forms/BarnRecordgoats.pdf

Records

http://www.sheep101.info/201/Forms/Doerecord.pdf

Records

Records

http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/Record%20Books/ES06-142%20Goat%20Guide.pdf

Records

http://www.famu.edu/goats/UserFiles/File/Record_Keeping.pdf

Records

• Takes time• Helps to:

– Identify animals to keep or cull– Identify health issues– Evaluate marketing– Track costs/income– Make tax time easier!

Recordkeeping

• Marketing is what sets your farm apart

• Dependant on:– Farm and lifestyle goals– Local access and demand– Your ability/desire to create demand– Personal preference– Time you are willing to invest– Income goals

Make or break time

• Lots of options • Learn what your customer wants• Consider the benefits and

challenges of different marketing channels

Marketing

• Methods?

• Products/services?

Marketing Options?

• Sale barn• Pooled/cooperative

sale• Graded sale• On-farm• Buyer’s club• Farmers Market• Restaurants/stores

• Ethnic markets• Organic• Value-added

products• Breeding stock• Show stock• Vegetation

management• Fiber• Milk/dairy products

Marketing Options

• Variable

• Cover cost

• Build in profit

Setting your price

Break-even Kid Price (per pound)

Doe cost ($/head/yr)

% Kid Crop

75% 100% 150% 200%

30 .67 .50 .33 .25

40 .89 .67 .45 .34

50 1.11 .83 .55 .42

60 1.33 1.00 .67 .50

Assumed market weight: 60 lbs.

• Keep costs low• Manage forages and

animals well• Pay attention to marketingPhoto courtesy of Susan Schoenian

To Enhance Profitability

• www.sheepgoatmarketing.info

• Marketing chapter in the Small Ruminant Resource Manual, and

• Tips for Marketing Sheep and Goats series (Live Animal, Meat, Dairy, Fiber, Vegetation Management Services) at www.attra.ncat.org

More information at:

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is a nonprofit organization that helps people and communities. NCAT champions small-scale, sustainable and local solutions to reduce poverty, protect communities and promote natural resources. Since 1976, NCAT has weatherized houses, trained farmers, monitored energy use and demonstrated renewable technology. NCAT works on local and national projects that foster a healthy quality of life for everyone.