How to plan your livestock numbers for the year ahead
Calculating your future stock or how you want to expand your farm is a good routine to instil throughout the autumn and winter months when looking forward to the following year. You may also need to keep in mind what indoor space you have available or how you can make temporary housing if needed. This ensures you are able to forward plan your available space and take note of any problem areas, areas of concern etc.
You should ensure checks are done on fences regularly so that a plan can be put into place to rest that field whilst maintenance is carried out, particularly if it is a large area. This also gives you the opportunity to weigh up whether the last year was profitable or whether it is an opportunity to rent your land out for hay/haylage for a few months. This can increase the quality of the grass, particularly if it has been used for rotation grazing. This will give the fields a chance to rest and the farmer renting the fields will put fertilizer or muck down to enhance the quality of the grass that will grown. This will ensure the quality of grass your livestock will be on will be increased.
Calculating stock profitability is key in ensuring the success of your farm. We have created profitability calculators for keeping pigs and chickens. It is also recommended to check if you are eligible for the rural payment scheme or if you are in Wales, Rural grants payment
Getting in touch with your local Farmers Union can give you help in filling our forms for funding and see what you are eligible for depending on the land you own or changes you can make, eg planting new native woodland or laying hedges that can be funded, as well as other training opportunities that can enhance your farm business as you gain qualifications.
Grazing
For companion grazing where horses or beef cattle use the fields after sheep have been grazing on them you will need to ensure adequate spacing and nutrition. For horses and cattle temporary electric fencing can be used to prevent overgrazing. Dairy cows require more intensive high quality grazing and have higher dietary requirements to maintain good milk production. On average pasture, you should allow for 0.5-1 cows per acre and roughly 8-10 sheep. You should have a rotation plan in place to allow fields to rest ideally for at least 10 days between grazing, also supplemental feed may be needed depending on the grass quality. Soil samples should be taken every 3-4 years to help maintain soil health. Avoid sampling fields within six months of fertilizer or lime applications. If your fields have poor soil quality or uneven, mixed land types a hill breed sheep or goats may be better suited.
Raising pigs can be a good use of land, their rooting behaviours can help loosen compacted soil removing deep rooted weeds, as well as invasive species such as couch grass and pokeweed transforming overgrown or degraded land into productive pasture. The manure left behind enrich soil with organic matter and nutrients, improving fertility and supporting the growth of beneficial microbes, worms and insects. This natural fertilization enriches the soil structure and nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen and potassium which can boost crop yields.
Kune kune pigs are foragers so can be used to clear areas of brush without them turning over the soil to excess. Most pig breeds will rapidly turn over any new pasture they are placed on and can make quick work of a field. It is advisable to use temporary electric fencing to enable them to have new grass, during summer months areas can be reseeded for a few months
For the smallholder/small scale farmer
You may like to consider short term animals vs long term. This could vary year to year based around available finances, whether you own or rent the fields you use for animals, and what government grants are available. Many people find that if they are raising animals for meat, whether to solely feed your family or to sell locally, having short term animals, weaner pigs or store lambs can ensure your land is being used without the year round financial and physical commitment. Pigs do wonders for the soil and if you were to turn part of a field over to a few weaners in the summer months by the late winter-spring it will be ready to plant or reseed. Likewise fields that have no use are making more work for you in the year to come. Store lambs, typically bought around August time and kept until Feb-March will keep the grass maintained in fields and some hill breeds prefer brush and woodland. This is particularly helpful if your fields are a mixture of good pasture, scrub and woodland. Ensure there are hedges and some shelter during the winter months and supplement with hay as needed. A small flock will manage mostly on the available grass over winter. This can also be an opportunity to trial animals you are unsure of keeping long term, it takes away the pressure of lambing whilst still giving you valuable insight and learning opportunities with your chosen animal.
Whilst marts are a valuable way of increasing your livestock numbers if you were looking to keep costs down consider rehoming animals or keeping an eye out for local groups or pages where animals may be advertised. This is particularly useful if you are looking to breed any of your livestock or poultry/waterfowl. It can be a great way to connect with locals and ensure different bloodlines, particularly with chickens and ducks who can encounter health problems from inbreeding.
Ensure you have checked which movement licence you need, regulations around movement distance, that the seller or buyer if you are moving your stock on, has a CPH number and that you are aware of any given medications which have withdrawal periods.
Useful links
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In Scotland:
In Northern Ireland:
In Republic of Ireland: