High Production Costs in Small Ruminants

What are the primary costs that factor into raising small ruminant animals?

Feed costs are one of the biggest expenses associated with raising small ruminant animals. While feed prices can vary depending on the species, production goals and environmental conditions, most feeds include grains, protein supplements, vitamin supplements, mineral supplements and other preventative feed additives. Many of the larger commodity ingredients depend on supply and demand — which, in turn, rely on good weather and freight conditions and the quality of national crops.

What influences small ruminant production costs?

The price of production is expected to increase alongside changes in antibiotic use and production systems. These costs often impact those making the decisions about the nutrition and general day-to-day management of the operation while also safely raising healthy animals for the food system.

What steps can I take to lower my cost of production?

Whether their operation is large, small or somewhere in between, every producer is aware of the components that cost them money — and is interested in lowering those expenses. In small-ruminant production, profit margins are already so tight that even seemingly minor factors can significantly impact costs. Feed costs represent the majority of the total production costs, but there are other variables that can also impact your overall business..

If you are interested in reducing your production costs, consider evaluating the following factors:

• Water quality and consumption:
  Could the water your group of animals is drinking be detrimentally effecting their performance and productivity, thereby increasing your production costs? Water quality and consumption are directly correlated with feed intake; if animals do not drink enough water, they will not consume enough feed.
  
  Depending on the stage of development, water consumption also declines when animals are transported. The stress and uncertainty of being moved to an unfamiliar environment can cause them to stop drinking and, in turn, stop eating. In the same vein, the more quickly they get back to drinking water, the faster they will start eating again — which will help them acclimate to their new environment more quickly and decrease the likelihood of any negative side effects due to related stress.
   
• Feed quality and efficiency:
  Are the ingredients in your feed compromising your animals’ growth and performance? Paying attention to feed quality is vital, as it plays a significant role in both intake levels and digestibility. With feed costs representing the majority of all production costs, ensuring optimal feed quality and maximum feed efficiency should be a top priority for all producers.
  
  Providing a balanced ration for sheep, goats and deer is essential. Digestibility issues can be detected by recording feed intakes and weight gains and by calculating feed conversion ratios at all stages of production. These statistics will reveal any drops in performance, thereby signaling that feed adjustments may be required. Changes to these numbers may also indicate problems with the feed, such as mycotoxin contamination — especially in the case of feed refusals — or the poor digestibility of feed ingredients. Understanding which factors affect feed quality and implementing a quality-assurance program will help you ensure that your animals are getting the best nutrition possible.