"An effective method for increasing revenue from a lambproduction enterprise is to increase the number of lambsproduced per ewe each year. With high-level managementand production skills, it is possible to produce three lambcrops per ewe every two years. This technique is calledaccelerated lambing. It combines spring, off-season, andholiday lamb production into one enterprise. It also allowsfor increased efficiency in use of labor, land, equipment, and buildings."
"The term ?backgrounding? may be relatively new to some.However, this management system is well known to bothcow-calf producers and cattle feeders. Backgrounding is abeef production system that uses pasture and other foragesfrom the time calves are weaned until they are placed in afeedlot. Calves generally gain from 100 to 400 pounds,depending on the available forages, ration fed, and length of time involved. The weight gain comes primarily frommuscle and frame development, with little from fattening.These gains are accomplished as economically as possibleby making maximum use of forages such as pasture, hay,and silage. Little, if any, grain is used in mostbackgrounding programs."
"The United States is the leading beef producer in the world. Almost 26.9 billion pounds of beef were produced in the United States in 2000 and per capita consumption totaled 78 pounds. The cattle cycle currently is in a declining phase. A smaller calf crop, a slight decline in cattle feeding, small decline in slaughter rates, and stable consumption rates will be evident for several years. Profitability in the cattle business usually increases as production declines."
"Dairy goat production is an alternative livestock enterprisesuitable for many small-scale or part-time livestock operations.Some dairy goat producers have been successful inpasteurizing goat milk and building an on-farm juggingbusiness; others have ventured into processed milk productsfor retail distribution. The potential also exists for selling milk to processors, usually on a regional basis. Although fluid milk and processed products are important markets, dairy goat producers should also consider the potential for selling animals to hobbyists and youth involved in vocational agriculture livestock projects."
"Heifers are the foundation of any dairy enterprise. Farmerscan improve their herds by replacing culled cows with wellfed,healthy, genetically superior 2-year-old heifers.In mostherds, dairy farmers replace 25 to 30 percent of the herd each year. These replacements represent a significantfinancial investment.Dairy heifer production in the Northeast and the Midwesthas typically been the responsibility of dairy farmers.However, milk producers in other parts of the country oftenbuy bred replacement heifers or contract their own heifersout to other growers."
