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Do you have any unused land in your possession? Are you planning to buy some land and don’t know exactly which animals to grow on it? Should you go with chickens, pigs or goats? Don’t worry, we got you covered in this article, where we will be showing you the 10 most profitable livestock to raise on your farm.
Farming livestock on the farm can be a very lucrative business. All you need to do is decide on the animals that would suit you best.
Livestock in primary activities means all those animals, that is, small animals (sheep and goats) and large livestock (cattle and horses) kept for breeding purposes so that we can obtain food products and raw materials, and until recently for farm work. The branch of the livestock farming industry is called animal husbandry, and together with farming, fishing, and forestry, belongs to the primary activities.
The most primitive forms of animal husbandry are the nomadic type found in tribal communities, such as the Indian Tod and African Nilotic tribes (Masai and Turkana). Goat and sheep cattle are the best-known farmed cattle of small peasant households and the state economy. In a small peasant economy, investments are small, so-called extensive livestock farming, while for the state economy the most important is the intensive livestock breeding industry with large investments and using modern sciences, because of the better yield, which will serve as raw material for the meat and dairy industries.
If you want to find out which animals are best and most profitable for breeding, continue reading this article.
Most Profitable Livestock to Rase
1. Pigs
The pigs have a muzzle, small eyes, and a small curly tail. They have an elongated slim body and short legs. There are four toes on each leg, with the longest finger located in the middle and used for walking. Pigs are known omnivores, which means they feed on both plants and animals. They are known for eating virtually everything including insects, worms, tree bark, carcasses, feces (also their own), trash and other pigs. In the wild, they are forage animals, primarily feeding on leaves, grass, roots, fruits, and flowers. Exceptionally in captivity, pigs can also eat their cubs.
The typical pig has a large head with a long muzzle, which is reinforced by a special bone called preferential bone and with cartilage at the tip. The muzzle, as the most sensitive senses, is used to dig around the ground for food. Pigs have 44 teeth. The canines, also called tusks, grow continuously and are sharpened by rubbing the lower and upper tusks. Due to the highly developed sense of smell, pigs are used to search for truffles in most European countries. The pigs are domesticated and raised as livestock for meat (pork) and for the skin. Pork spiky hair is used to make brushes. Some types of pigs are domesticated for pets.
Female pigs (sows) remain pregnant after 8-18 months of age. Spawning becomes sexually mature after 8-10 months of age. Once a mother has her litter, you get 11 new pigs. But, you have to raise those small pigs for about a year before you can get enough meat from them. Pigs do not have developed sweat glands, so pigs are cooled using water or mud during the heat. Mud is also used to protect against sunburn, insects, and parasites.
Pigs are considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world compared to dogs. It has been proven that the mood of a pig can be determined by the tail. If the tail is tightly wound, the pig is happy, and if the tail hangs limp, then the pig is unhappy. They are most profitable when they have enough space around them. They are large animals and require big amounts of food. You have to think about that because it can become very expensive. You can make all kinds of products from pigs, especially meat products. From salami, sausages, direct quality red meat, to fat, cracklings, and more. Pigs can be very profitable livestock to raise.
2. Goats
The most well-known species of this genus are the Capricorn, the Scurvy goat and, of course, the domestic goat with its original form, the wild goat. There is an agreement that goats are close relatives of sheep. Occasionally, they, together with the Berber sheep, merge into one common lineage. But sheep goats are distinguished by their typical beard and convex head shape. Today, there is no unique view as to whether domestic goat should be considered a separate species, Capra hircus, or just a subspecies of wild goats.
This view, being a separate species, is represented by zoologists who believe that their origin from wild goats has not been unequivocally proven. Capricorns, which today are divided into five separate species, were previously considered one species. While populations living in Ethiopia, the Caucasus, and the Pyrenees today are considered separate species, the Capricorn populations inhabiting the mountains of Syria, Siberia, and the Alps are still considered subspecies of Capricorns. But this division is still subject to debate.
Despite its name, American mountain goats do not belong to the goat genus.
People use goat meat, skin, milk (more than sheep), and wool. If they have all the plants available to them, they eat about 60% of the leaves and stems, about 20% of the herbs, and only about 20% of the grass. They have very modest requirements because their digestion is extremely effective. They are also often referred to as the poor cow because they are easier to feed and keep if there is not much space and enough food. Previously, and even today, they are kept in hilly areas (Alps, Norway) because of their climbing abilities, they are also suitable for areas where cattle cannot be kept.
Goats can destroy the plant cover of entire areas and thus contribute to desertification, since they eat almost all the herbs, along with the roots. Today, domestic goats are widespread in all parts of the Earth, with the exception of extremely cold areas. During the long-term rearing of domestic goats, humans have bred a very large number of different subspecies of domestic goats. In doing so, selection for cultivation was generally made according to the specific circumstances of the area for which the subspecies developed.
3. Cows
The largest number of domestic cows raised for meat is around 200 million in Brazil. Domestic cows are bred in a very large number of different breeds. In doing so, the breeds result from the targeted selection of mating animals to produce offspring of particular traits. In addition to meat, milk, and skin, domestic cow droppings are a highly regarded natural fertilizer in agriculture and serve as fuel. In many parts of the world, domestic cattle, especially oxen, are also used for hauling and play an important role in plowing.
Breeds were developed by targeted mating of parental animals with specific traits, in order to systematically enhance desirable traits in offspring. In doing so, there were two main directions, an increase in the quantity of milk and an increase in the quantity and quality of meat. Cows have been slaughtered in large numbers lately. The most famous cow slaughterhouses are in America. On this list, cows need the most space. So if you decide to grow them, you need to know that you will need a lot of land. You’ll need at least 2 acres of land if you plan on raising cows. One cow alone needs an acre for grazing purposes.
As you know, cows are a great source of milk and meat. However, they must have plenty of space to live happily ever after (and bring more milk and meat). They are not for everyone and remember that you will need to know how to handle them before embarking on their breeding. If you know your way around cows and have the acreage to do so, then the next step is to provide them with a large source of water, a large supply of hay, a barn, and plenty of shade out on the pasture.
4. Chickens
Buying and breeding a chicken does not seem complicated, but beginners should follow some guidelines. The first thing you need to do before buying is to decide for what purpose you want to breed chickens – just for meat, meat, and eggs or just eggs, and choosing the right breeding goals is essential to choosing the right type and right food. Be careful when buying chickens, especially if you are buying from unknown sellers. Some may deceive inexperienced poultry growers by selling them sick chickens or the elderly to whom productive years have ended.
It should be kept in mind that chickens grow very fast so they do not need to be bought in large quantities at the same time as they may not have enough space. It is important to choose the type of chick that suits you and not buy several types at the same time as some are not good to breed together so you need to carefully study the information about the type you want before buying. They will eat just about anything, they do need space, but not a lot, so you can combine them with other animals. They bring you meat, eggs, and fertilizers. Just make sure to keep them clean so they don’t get sick, sickness can spread very fast.
5. American Pekin ducks
Ducks are small to large birds with elongated bodies. The wings are short and pointed and are supported by strong muscles. The neck is usually long, but this varies among species. The legs are short and strong and placed far behind. The beaks of most species are straight, which is more or less pronounced. Their feathers are watertight. Ducks are vocal birds that make a variety of sounds like croaking and screaming, which depends on the species; females often have a deeper voice than males.
Ducks are mostly herbivores as adults and feed on a variety of aquatic plants, although some species do eat fish, shellfish, and similar animals. Species of the genus Mergus feed on fish and have a serrated beak. Many species also feed on invertebrates but become herbivores when they grow up. American Pekin ducks don’t require a lot of space and will eat most of the forage. They bring large eggs and are a very good source of meat.
6. Honeybees
The true bees (Apinae) are a family of insects, from the Apidae family, close relatives of bumblebees, further wasps and ants. There are approximately 20,000 species of bees in the world on all continents except Antarctica. They feed on nectar as a source of energy and pollen as a source of protein. There are a pair of tentacles on the head and one compound eye on each side. On the underside of the head is a lip organ adapted to take nectar from the flower petal. The chest consists of three separate rings.
There are one pair of legs on each side. There are one pair of flying wings on the second and third rolls, with the second pair of wings smaller. In some species, the wings are so small that it is impossible to fly. The front pair of legs of the bee serves to maintain and cleanse the body. The posterior pair of legs is specific in structure, into small recesses (baskets) that bees collect pollen or propolis. Swarming is the division of one into two new and mutually independent communities. Some prerequisites are needed to start bees to make swarms, such as suitable temperature and honey planting.
Honeybees don’t require much space and maintenance, and they are a great addition to any farm. The only things you need to raise them are hive boxes and a nearby water source. To catch bees you will need sugar water, gloves, and a bee suit. The box hives have room to hold sugar water to feed the bees, but they like to travel to get their food. They aren’t aggressive like other stinging insects and will produce honey for your kitchen or for a good source of profit, so they make a great addition to our most profitable animals to raise list.
7. Rabbits
Rabbits are extremely social beings, always living in groups in nature. They spend most of the day and night sleeping. They are most active in the evenings and should then be allowed to move freely, especially if they are confined in the cage most of the day. Rabbits are used for the production of meat, fur, wool, manure, and are raised for laboratory purposes.
Rabbits can be wild and tame, and today there are species that are bred exclusively as ornamental animals. The rabbit in the wild lives in underground dwellings. The female gives birth to naked and blind pups, who are completely dependent on their mother. They are herbivores and the main source of their diet are roots and leafy vegetables, hay, and cereals. Rabbits have short ears and hind legs and are generally small in size. Dwarf rabbits are one of the most common pets today. Rural or familial breeding is characteristic of breeding rabbits from 5 to 20 females.
Production takes place on farms and meat produced in this way is mostly used in the household. Breeding technology is simple and rabbits feed only slightly with industrial feed. Semi-intensive breeding is carried out on a farm with about 300 females where it is sufficient for only one person to take care of them. Growing technology is more advanced and modern. Intensive or industrial breeding is carried out on farms with more than 300 females. The investments are more significant and in order to cover the costs, the technological process of cultivation must correspond to the rhythm of intensive production.
8. Crocodiles
I bet you didn’t see this one coming!
Crocodiles are a species of tropical predators. With birds, these are the only surviving “descendants” of a large group of reptiles, the Archosaurs. Therefore, their closest living relatives today are birds. Their kinship is evidenced by a number of traits, but above all by the structure of the circulatory system. Because of bone armor, crocodiles are also called armored lizards. Rule number one, when working in a crocodile environment, is that you never turn your back at them at any cost.
Crocodile farming has its challenges, but the profits are surprising. You can earn up to 100 percent. They are feed with fish, ground corn soaked in blood, and the flesh of other animals. Crocodile meat taste is described as very chicken-like. The best time to kill a crocodile because of meat is at the age of eight. Farming crocodiles is not at all easy. Crocodile injuries sustained as a result of their fighting can lead to sudden illness and death. The biggest danger is crocodile pox for whom no vaccine exists and can kill the entire population in no time.
The initial expenses are not small at all, they can get as much as half a million dollars, including the purchase of land and the purchase of apparatus, medicines, professional staff, and animals for food for crocodiles. The killing of crocodiles, apart from the issue of animal ethics in general, is not legally in dispute because this second largest reptile in the world is absolutely not an endangered animal species.
9. Turkey
These are large birds, larger than any other species of the hen they are classified in. Adult males stand up to 3.3 feet in height and weigh about 10 pounds. The only two species of this genus differ in color, but the structure of the skeleton is almost identical. The large body points to a bird that stays predominantly on the ground, running more frequently on the ground than flying. The wings give them a powerful short-haul flight.
They inhabit the area from the southern edge of Canada through the US and Mexico all the way to Belize and Guatemala. The domesticated species of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is widespread throughout the world today. The ideal habitats for them are the forests with vast clearings or forest edges. Turkeys need dense forest undergrowth to hide and nest, sleeping trees, and grassy areas to search for food. Over time, turkeys have become hemorrhoids, so they now inhabit parks as well as the outskirts of cities.
Today’s market shows increasing interest in the purchase and consumption of animal products derived from animals raised in a “natural” way. The main activity of the turkey farm is seasonal farming so that turkeys are ready for sale at the end of the year during the holiday season. One part of the breeding animals are left on the farm for reproduction next year, while any surpluses are sold as day-old turkeys during the breeding season.
Turkey breeding technology implies a free holding mode that ensures that the animal spends most of its life outdoors, moving freely through meadows, forest orchards and other habitats rich in vegetation. A maximum of 400 turkeys can be settled on 2.5 acres of green space.
10. Ostrich
The ostrich is a species of ostrich bird and is the largest living bird on Earth today. Today it only lives in sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, it also lived in West Asia. It is a bird that has always been significant to humans because of its feathers, flesh, and skin. This has led to it being exterminated in many of the areas where it previously lived. The ostrich males are between 83 and 108 inches tall and weigh between 220 and 286 pounds and sometimes as high as 330 lbs. Females are smaller, 70 to 75 inches tall, and weigh 200 to 220 lbs.
Ostriches live in open areas such as savannas and deserts. They prefer an environment with short grass and trees that are not too tall. They do not even live in areas where grass grows more than 40 inches. Occasionally they enter bushy areas but do not stay in them because the bushes interfere with movement and obscure their view. They are neither suitable nor veritable for deserts without vegetation as their permanent retention, but on their travels, they pass over them without difficulty. They cover their need for water with food, so they do not need access to water, and they do not mind long dry periods.
Ostriches are predominantly herbivores, but occasionally eat insects as well as smaller animals. They feed mainly on grains, grasses, leaves, and fruits. Insects, caterpillars, and locusts are just a side accessory. They give preference to foods they can pick up from the ground. The ostrich meat has a specific taste reminiscent of the taste of beef and bison meat. In addition, there is very little cholesterol. It cannot be baked because it becomes tough, but it is very good for making in souces or baking in foil. Adding strong spices as well as sweet flavors such as honey and ginger enhances its own taste of ostrich meat.
Only recently has ostrich been used for horseback riding or towing as a tourist attraction. However, this does not exist anywhere as a cultural tradition. Once you have decided on the choice of livestock to breed, remember to check the competition near you. If you know some farmers, talk to them, see if they may have tried breeding one of these animals before, if it didn’t work for them, why it didn’t work. Learn from others’ mistakes and good luck in your new job or hobby.
