The Complete Guide to Organic Livestock Farming Everything You Need to Know about Natural Farming on a Small Scale (Back to Basics Farming)

Small scale farming has grown greatly in popularity during the last two decades, with a greater turn in public awareness toward locally grown, organic, grass fed products that have not been modified, chemically altered, or poorly fed. Those looking to start a small scale farm and raise livestock have a greater chance than ever before to take advantage of the new market for small scale goods.

This book will show any potential small scale farmer how to start raising their livestock and marketing it to the organic, natural lifestyle community that so fervently seeks out these products. Topics covered include:

• The basic outline for a new small farm, including which livestock to raise, how to build their pens and habitat, and what to feed them to maintain a healthy, organic farm
• The basics of animal husbandry, from genetics and breeding to feeding, building locations, and proper health and reproduction care
• How to find the right niche for selling your products and any legalities that may be encountered
• The butchering and processing phase

Hundreds of hours of in-depth interviews have been conducted for this book with top experts in farm management to provide you with details about farm planning, financial planning, and proper livestock planning. A complete appendix will detail the various breeds and needs of cattle, chickens, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep to help you select the right livestock for your farm. In addition, you will learn the basic composition of most feeds, different grasses and legumes you can use, and find a plethora of outside resources to utilize.

For anyone with dreams of a small farm and raising livestock in their future, this is a book for you.

Terri is living on five rural acres and slowly building it into a thriving organic farm. Although she grew up in the city, today she prefers a natural country life with her significant other and young daughter. By managing a freelance writing career from home, she can spend most of her time outdoors tending to both garden and livestock. This has given her a great deal of hands-on experience that she treasures. Not only has she gleaned her knowledge from experience, but also she has learned from the numerous helpful neighbors who seem to constantly have tips and suggestions to offer. Eventually, Terri hopes to be more self-sufficient and produce most of her own food. When not in the garden or barnyard, she studies genealogy and collects antique typewriters.