Small-Flock sheep breeder

Other farmers and hobby farmers buying breeding stock, plus local buyers and processors buying lambs.

Sale of lambs and breeding ewes or rams each season, with a higher price for registered purebred animals from good bloodlines.

• Calm, confident animal handling
• Basic livestock health and lambing knowledge
• Record keeping for breeding and health
• Fencing and general farm repairs

• Zoning and municipal bylaws on keeping livestock, check with your municipality
• Premises registration and animal identification and traceability rules, which vary by province, check with your provincial ministry and CFIA
• Farm liability insurance, and WCB/WSIB rules if you hire help (check your province)
• Predators, winter feed costs, vet bills and lambing losses, so plan a cash buffer
• Rules for selling meat, which often require a licensed processor, check before selling lamb directly

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on how many ewes and rams you buy, plus fencing, shelter and equipment. Vet bills and winter feed add to this, so keep a cash buffer.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on flock size, lambing results and whether you sell breeding stock or lambs for meat. Predators and lambing losses can affect this. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check zoning and municipal bylaws on livestock, and premises registration and animal identification and traceability rules with your provincial ministry and CFIA. Also check farm liability insurance, WCB/WSIB if you hire, and rules for selling meat, which often involve a licensed processor.