Is a Small Ruminant Micro Dairy Right for Your Farm?

Interested in small ruminant production? Gabriel Cassone and Brett Wolff talk through some of the questions you might have when considering small ruminant production. This webinar, put together along with the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, provides insight into Kentucky dairy regulations, example budgets for a 75-ewe flock and a 75-doe herd, and some simple questions to get producers thinking about the feasibility of this venture.

The regulatory section covers the two documents every prospective dairy needs to know: the federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and Kentucky's own regulations under 902 KAR Chapter 50. Producers also learn to choose between Grade A and manufacturing grade before pouring concrete, and which finished products fall into each.

Every new small business owner faces the same dichotomy of picking a size they can manage labor-wise, and accepting the high break-even point that comes with low production volume. We talk through some of these considerations with an example 75 head herd. 

After going through the budget we find what would a hundredweight have to be worth for the operation to break even? That figure is then carried forward into a cheese enterprise to see whether the finished product can cover it and, for some producers, whether this is a business they would like to pursue.

Watch the full presentation here