Establishing your Smallholding: Animal Selection
Establishing your Smallholding: Animal Selection
When considering the animals you want to rear on your smallholding, it's essential to consider the precise role they will play, as each animal provides a different set of benefits.
- Chickens:
- Meat: Broiler chickens are raised for their meat.
- Eggs: Layer hens are raised to produce eggs.
- Pest control: Chickens can help control pests in gardens by eating insects and larvae.
- Ducks:
- Meat: Some breeds, like Pekin and Muscovy, are raised for meat.
- Eggs: Breeds like Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner are known for their egg production.
- Pest control: Ducks also eat insects and slugs, providing natural pest control.
- Geese:
- Meat: Geese can be raised for meat, with breeds like Toulouse and Embden being popular choices.
- Eggs: Geese produce larger eggs than chickens, although they lay fewer eggs overall.
- Weed control: Geese are excellent grazers and can help control weeds in gardens and orchards.
- Pigs:
- Meat: Pigs are raised primarily for pork, bacon, and ham.
- Waste management: Pigs can help manage food waste by consuming excess fruits, vegetables, and other food scraps.
- Sheep:
- Meat: Sheep are raised for meat, typically lamb or mutton.
- Wool: Sheep produce wool, which can be sheared and used for making yarn, clothing, and other textiles.
- Milk: Some breeds, like East Friesian, are used for milk production, which can be used to make cheese and other dairy products.
- Grazing and land management: Sheep can help maintain pastures and control vegetation.
- Goats:
- Meat: Some goat breeds, such as Boer and Spanish goats, are raised for meat production.
- Milk: Dairy goat breeds like Nubian, LaMancha, and Alpine are raised for milk production, which can be used to make cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products.
- Fibre: Certain breeds, such as Angora and Cashmere goats, produce fibre that can be used for making yarn, clothing, and other textiles.
- Land management: Goats are known for their ability to browse and clear brush, making them useful for controlling weeds, undergrowth, and invasive plant species.
- Cows:
- Meat: Beef cattle breeds like Angus, Hereford, and Charolais are raised for meat production.
- Milk: Dairy cow breeds like Holstein, Jersey, and Guernsey are raised for milk production, which can be used to make cheese, butter, yogurt, and other dairy products.
- Draft animals: In some cases, cattle, particularly oxen, can be trained as draft animals for pulling carts or ploughs.
- Donkeys and mules:
- Draft animals: Donkeys and mules are often used as draft animals for pulling carts and ploughs, as well as carrying loads.
- Land management: They can help maintain pastures through grazing.
- Guard animals: Donkeys can also act as guard animals, protecting livestock from predators such as coyotes or wolves.
- Horses:
- Draft animals: Horses can be used for farm work, including pulling plows, carts, and other equipment.
- Riding: Horses can be used for riding, transportation, and recreational purposes.
- Rabbits:
- Meat: Rabbits are raised for their lean, tender meat.
- Fur: Rabbit fur can be used for clothing and other textiles.
- Manure: Rabbit manure is an excellent fertilizer for gardens and can be used to improve soil fertility.
- Bees:
- Honey: Honeybees produce honey, which can be harvested and used as a natural sweetener.
- Pollination: Bees are essential pollinators for many fruit and vegetable crops, improving yields and quality.
- Wax: Beeswax can be used for making candles, cosmetics, and various household products.
- Fish (in aquaponics or small ponds):
- Meat: Fish such as tilapia, catfish, or trout can be raised for their meat.
- Aquaponics: Fish can be integrated into an aquaponics system, where their waste provides nutrients for plants, and the plants help filter the water for the fish.
- Llamas and alpacas:
- Fibre: Both llamas and alpacas produce soft, warm fibre that can be used for making yarn, clothing, and other textiles.
- Pack animals: Llamas and alpacas can be used as pack animals for carrying loads.
- Guard animals: Llamas, in particular, can act as guard animals, protecting livestock from predators.
- Turkeys:
- Meat: Turkeys are raised for their meat, particularly for holiday feasts.
- Pest control: Turkeys, like chickens and ducks, can help control pests by eating insects and larvae.
When considering the animals you want to rear on your smallholding, it's essential to consider their uses, the amount of space they require, and the level of care they need.
The table below summarizes this information for each animal. Please note that the cost per animal is a rough estimate and may vary depending on factors such as breed, age, and location. The care requirements are also a general summary, and more specific care instructions will depend on the individual animal and its breed.
Animal | Space per Animal | Cost per Animal (GBP) | Care Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
Chicken | 0.01-0.02 acres | £5-£20 | Feed, water, shelter, nesting boxes, predator protection, regular health checks |
Duck | 0.02 acres | £10-£30 | Feed, water, shelter, access to water for swimming, predator protection, regular health checks |
Goose | 0.02 acres | £20-£60 | Feed, water, shelter, access to water for swimming, predator protection, regular health checks |
Pig | 0.25 acres | £50-£200 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, wallowing area, regular health checks, waste management |
Sheep | 0.5-1 acre | £50-£200 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, rotational grazing, shearing, regular health checks, hoof trimming |
Goat | 0.5-1 acre | £50-£300 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, rotational grazing, milking (for dairy goats), regular health checks, hoof trimming |
Cow | 1-2 acres | £500-£2,000 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, milking (for dairy cows), regular health checks, hoof trimming |
Donkey/Mule | 0.5-1 acre | £300-£1,500 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, regular health checks, hoof trimming, training (for draft animals) |
Horse | 1-2 acres | £500-£5,000 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, regular health checks, hoof trimming, training (for riding/draft animals) |
Rabbit | 0.005-0.01 acres | £10-£50 | Feed, water, shelter, secure hutch, regular health checks, grooming |
Bee | 0.001 acres (1 hive) | £150-£300 (for a colony) | Hive maintenance, water source, swarm management, disease and pest control |
Fish | Varies by pond size/system | £1-£5 (per fish) | Water quality management, feed, temperature control, filtration, disease and pest control |
Llama/Alpaca | 1-2 acres | £300-£3,000 | Feed, water, shelter, fencing, regular health checks, shearing, hoof trimming |
Turkey | 0.025 acres | £10-£50 | Feed, water, shelter, predator protection, regular health checks |
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