Living on a homestead can be challenging, especially when making money. However, there are many ways people have found to earn an income from their property. One of the most common is working with livestock.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a viable option for some people because they don’t have the space. However, many homesteaders have large areas of land they can use to raise animals. In addition, some people find that livestock is their favorite part of living on a homestead.
Others are not interested in caring for animals but want to make money from them anyway. But for others, it is an excellent way to make money without feeling overwhelmed by all of their chores or responsibilities.
This article will discuss 9 ways of making money by raising livestock on your small plot of land or even in your backyard!
How to Make Money From Livestock on Homestead
Breed Horses
One way to make money with horses on a homestead is to breed them. You can breed horses and then sell the foals or keep them and sell them later on when they are fully grown.
Another way to make money with horses on a homestead is to use them for carriage rides. People love riding in carriages, and you can charge a lot of money for this service.
Finally, you can also use your horses to pull wagons or carts. Again, this is a great way to transport goods and make extra money.
Breed Cows
Another way that you can make money from livestock on your homestead is by breeding cows and raising calves. Of course, many farmers also breed their dairy cows, so they continue producing milk, but this isn’t necessary if you just want to sell the meat or leather products instead of using them for yourself.
Remember that it takes a lot of time and energy before you start seeing any profits since it can take up to two years before these animals are fully grown!
You should only do this if you genuinely love working with animals because there will be some tough times ahead during those first couple of years until everything starts paying off long-term.
Sell eggs
You can sell the eggs and meat that you produce from your birds. This is a great way to make money, and you can charge a premium for your products because they are organic and local.
Also, selling your products can give you a good source of additional income and help pay for your livestock’s upkeep and maintenance.
Take the eggs from your chickens every morning before you feed them so that they lay more during the day! You can sell both white and brown eggs depending on what people want.
Sell produce
You can also sell the products that you grow on your homestead. This could include fruits, vegetables, herbs, or even flowers. Produce is in high demand, and there is a constant need for fresh produce.
By growing your own, you can ensure that you have a steady supply of quality products to sell. You may also charge a premium price for your products since it is locally grown.
A few varieties of produce in exceptionally high demand include tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, pumpkins, and sweet corn. While you do not necessarily have to sell your product, it is an excellent way for you to bring in some extra money.
Host workshops
You could host workshops or events on your property to make money. For example, if you are an artist or have skills that others want to learn, this is a great way to create an additional income stream for yourself.
For example, you could offer a workshop on making a particular type of cheese or building a chicken coop.
You could also host “Open Farm Days,” where people can come and learn about farming and homesteading. This can be a great way to attract new customers and create connections with other like-minded people.
Sell the meat of your livestock
Your meat chickens, rabbits, and goats can all be sold to help you make money from livestock. However, you should always give the person buying your animals a price that includes their purchase of the animal and what they can take when it is time to go home (the pelt, feathers, etc.).
This will ensure that you do not sell an animal only to find out later down the road that you made much less than anticipated by selling just its body.
If someone wants live chicks or rabbits to start up their homesteading project, then offer them a reduced rate because if they end up liking how easy it is, then there’s a good chance that they’ll come back and buy more!
Make and sell leather
You can make leather goods like wallets, shoes, and clothes. Leather is highly in demand because of its durability and waterproof nature; it also has a high resale value.
Auctions are also good places to sell your leather goods. With time, you can get better at making shoes and clothes; this will help increase your income.
This product will also add to your homesteading skills as you learn the process of making leather from scratch.
Sell wool
Wool is a valuable product that you can sell to make money from your livestock. However, you will need to shear the wool off each animal, which might not be worth it if they don’t have much body hair or produce very little wool.
Wool is also readily marketable online because there’s no limit on how much you can buy (and therefore potentially sell).
Vend Milk and Cheese
Both cheese and milk are in high demand in the modern-day. Many people enjoy a glass of milk with their cookies or cereal, and cheese is an ingredient that can be found on plenty of dinner menus all across America.
If you have livestock, you will have access to both ingredients for your use and potential buyers if you choose to sell them elsewhere. Milk has a pretty short shelf life, so getting any excess dairy products sold as fast as possible is essential.
On the other hand, cheese can be aged for months or years before it spoils – this makes cheese an even better product than milk because you don’t need to sell your extra right away!
Frequently Asked Questions
What livestock should I raise?
This depends on what you want to do with the animals. If you are looking for income, pigs and cattle can bring in some good money. However, pigs and cows require good pasture land that is hard to find on a homestead without clearing some forest, which can be time-consuming.
How much money can you make from selling milk?
You can make a good amount of money from selling milk. For example, if you have a dairy cow, it is possible to sell the milk she produces each day. The average cow can produce five gallons per day, so if you could collect all her milk and sell it at $0.50/gallon!
What is the best breed of cow to raise?
While cows can be profitable, they take time and money. Therefore, the breed you choose to raise is essential as well. If your primary goal is beef production, an Angus or Hereford cross will make the most sense. For dairy, breeds think about crossing Holstein with another popular dairy cow such as Devon or Brown Swiss.
Takeaway
Now that you know how to make money from livestock, it is time for you to get started. With these 9 tips and tricks in hand, your homestead business will see a boost!
If you liked this article on making money with livestock, we highly recommend that you check out the rest of our website, where we have many more articles covering the latest homesteading trends and advice.
