Part-Time livestock trader (small lots)

Other farmers, hobby farmers, backgrounders and feedlots, and sometimes processors, buying the stock you resell.

The gap between your buy price and sale price, minus agistment, transport, agent commission, feed, vet costs and losses. Some lots will make nothing or lose money.

• Judging stock condition and value
• Negotiating prices
• Basic animal handling
• Record keeping and budgeting

• Price swings and seasonal conditions can turn a margin into a loss, so only risk money you can afford to lose
• Check your state's rules on PICs, NLIS tagging, movement records and National Vendor Declarations
• Check whether your state requires a licence or registration for buying and selling livestock commercially
• Check livestock insurance, public liability cover, and animal welfare and biosecurity duties
• Check council or landholder rules if you agist or hold stock on someone else's land

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the size and type of mobs you buy, agistment, carrier costs and insurance. Price swings can turn a margin into a loss, so only risk money you can afford to lose.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on mob size, buying and selling prices and how long you hold stock. The estimates assume at least about 6 hours a week, and seasonal conditions can affect results.

Check your state's rules on PICs, NLIS tagging, movement records and National Vendor Declarations. Check whether a licence or registration is needed to trade commercially, plus livestock and public liability insurance, animal welfare and biosecurity duties, and rules for agisting on someone else's land.