How to Raise Farm Animals for Human Consumption

There are a variety of animals that can be raised for human consumption, from beef cattle to emus. Before purchasing breeding stock to begin the operation, it is necessary to conduct the proper research to ensure the venture will be profitable and that you have the necessary land and equipment requirements. If you are raising animals with the intent of selling the products to others, specific types of licenses are typically required. It is generally best to start the operation small and increase after it shows signs of profitability. Although the exact procedure for raising animals for consumption is specific to the type of operation, many of the basic ideas are the same regardless of the species.

Things You'll Need

  • Operating/selling licenses
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Create a business plan if you are raising animals with the intent of turning a profit on the venture. Be realistic about the market potential or your animal or animal products, and list all costs associated with the operation, including land costs, housing costs, equipment, feed, veterinary bills, breeding stock and other start-up costs. This step is not necessary if raising animals for your own consumption, although it may still be useful to determine if raising an animal for its products is cheaper than buying them outright from a retailer.

    • 2

      Visit several operations similar to the one you will be initiating and talk to other people who have raised the same animals. They can offer you valuable insight into the process of rearing and selling livestock and other species.

    • 3

      Prepare the housing for the animals before you purchase them. For example, if raising beef build a fence around a pasture and ensure they have shelter inside the paddock. If growing chickens build or buy a coop of the appropriate size.

    • 4

      Purchase breeding stock. You will probably not consume these animals, but use them to produce offspring and grow your herd. Starting with high quality animals is worth the investment because the genetic superiority will be evident throughout the entire herd.

    • 5

      Obtain any necessary licenses required to raise and sell the animal and its products. For example, a beef producer may need to register with the local markets before he can send his cattle to the weekly auction. The paperwork needed to sell animal products vary by state.

    • 6

      Find a market for the animals being raised. This can be as simple as telling your neighbors that you will have several sides of organic beef ready to sell in the future, or as complex as creating a business that is based on selling animal goods, such as products made from emus.

    • 7

      Sell or consume the animal at the most profitable time. For example, in the case of beef cattle this can mean either when they have reached a specific weight or when the market prices are high. Holding onto an animal too long will decrease profits because of the daily costs associated with keeping them.