Small sheep or goat flock for meat and wool

Local families, ethnic and religious communities who buy lamb and goat for holidays, restaurants, farmers market shoppers, and handspinners who buy fleeces.

Sell whole or half animals directly to customers (priced by weight), sell live animals to other buyers, and sell raw or processed wool. Direct sales usually earn more per animal than auction.

• Basic animal care and handling
• Fencing and pasture management
• Record keeping
• Selling directly to customers

• Zoning and any limits on livestock numbers, check with your county
• Meat sold by the cut generally must be processed at an inspected facility; rules on whole or half animal sales vary by state, so check with your state department of agriculture
• Farm liability insurance, since general liability policies often exclude livestock
• Predators, parasites and vet costs can eat into early profits
• Livestock needs daily care, so plan for travel and bad weather

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your pasture, fencing, animals and vet costs. Predators, parasites and vet bills can eat into early profits, so budget for them.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on flock size, what you sell and your local buyers. It can be run alongside a day job, but livestock needs daily care.

Check livestock zoning and any limits on animal numbers with your county. Meat sold by the cut generally must be processed at an inspected facility, and whole or half animal rules vary by state, so check with your state department of agriculture. Also check farm liability insurance.