Many of the goat producers are first generation, having started their farms in the last 20 years. So the cattle industry is a little different than the goat industry. What happens to some of these farms is somewhat unknown, but much of the land that these cattle producers have been utilizing has a highest and best use in forage production. Many of our older generation producers are passing the operation to the next generation or when the next generation has no interest, they simply sell the property. The Cattle Industry in the USA is experiencing a generation flip at this time. These are people that feel the pride in land ownership and stewardship. We are experiencing an increase in first generation cattle producers. Much of this land is often inherited from previous generations, but the current owners have a pride in their operations and its heritage. These landowners work off of the farm and have a few cows to utilize the land they possess. Across the Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest there are thousands of these producers. My market area consists of many small producers that own 40-50 acres and have 25-30 cows. In Western Montana, you would need 100+ acres for that same cow, so farm or ranch sizes can vary for cattle producers and the area in which you are living. In my hometown, we can run one cow unit per acre comfortably. The people that say “Where’s the BEEF?”! Unlike goats and sheep, cows are large and take up more space and acreage. Of course, there are exceptions for trainers, breeders, and those who raise working horses, but the majority owns a horse simply for pleasure. Unlike production livestock owners, many equine owners have horses simply for pleasure or companionship. Many times when someone with horses is looking for real estate, they prefer a small 5-20 acre piece of land with suitable pasture. Horse owners make large investments in their livestock. If you don’t agree that they are a passion, just ask a horse owner. Most are only looking for around 20 acres or less, which is just enough land in Central Alabama to begin a hobby farm with about 40 head of goats or sheep.Īnother group that can survive on a small acreage is equine owners. Often, I receive calls from buyers looking for small acreage land to start a hobby farm. You don’t have to have 15,000 acres in Texas to operate a small ruminant farm. A land owner with 10-15 acres of pastureland can operate a profitable goat and/or sheep farm in most areas of the United States. Small hobby farms are the leading supplier for goats and sheep. Goat meat is the number one consumed meat in the world. Due to our ethnic diversity, there is an increasing demand for goat meat here in the US. In the past 10 years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of meat goat, dairy goat, and sheep operations. That goat producer was a unique individual with a unique livestock operation. This producer owned 24 acres and sold his fainting goats as a novelty, for $200 each. The Fainting Goats laid there for about 5 minutes and finally jumped up like nothing every happened. In an instant, 20 or so goats fell to the ground like you had shot them all with one shot. I took a five gallon bucket and beat on it like a drum. Take it from me, you haven’t lived until you walk into a paddock with about 20 goats running around. It is here where I had my first experience with Fainting Goats. One fall day in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, I went to visit a very influential goat producer in that area. It is during my travels that I met many interesting people with unique livestock operations. In my 10 years of traveling the Eastern Seaboard and Southeastern States, I learned one thing- you can find all shapes and sizes of livestock farms and hobby farms. In a previous career, I covered 15 states for a livestock supplement company. I have been involved in livestock and agriculture my entire life. Living on a farm instills some key qualities in you for a lifetime. My wife and I are raising our sons on a cattle operation and I would not have it any other way. I grew up living on a beef cattle and poultry farm operation in East Alabama.
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