Small Sheep Flock for Lamb Sales

Livestock auctions and order buyers, local abattoirs and processors, and direct customers such as families and cultural or festival markets who buy whole or half lambs.

Selling lambs once a year or in batches, by weight or per animal. Some farmers also sell breeding stock or wool. Income is seasonal and comes in lumps.

• Comfortable handling animals
• Basic animal health and lambing know-how
• Fencing and general farm repairs
• Planning feed and pasture through the seasons

• Mandatory sheep ear tags and any premises identification in your province, check with the CFIA and your provincial agriculture ministry
• Rules on selling meat: processing usually has to be done at an inspected abattoir, check your province
• Zoning and municipal bylaws on keeping livestock, especially on small acreages
• Predators such as coyotes and dogs, which may call for strong fencing or guardian animals
• Winter feed costs, lambing in cold weather and vet bills can eat into profit
• Check whether you qualify for farm status and a farm business registration in your province

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on flock size, fencing, land and equipment. Winter feed, vet bills and predator protection can add to your costs.

Things to check include mandatory sheep ear tags and premises identification with the CFIA and your provincial ministry, inspected abattoir rules for selling meat, and zoning and municipal bylaws on keeping livestock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on flock size, lamb prices and how you sell. Winter feed costs, cold-weather lambing and vet bills can eat into profit.