Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
11
THE KEY TO PROFIT is to make good use of all the potential sources of
income connected with your sheep. This requires good planning and good
management.
If you've opted to raise purebred sheep, then publicize the superior traits of
your breed to boost sales of fi nal products, such as wool and meat, and to make
money by selling breeding stock. If you're raising a heritage breed, capitalize on
that by explaining the importance of maintaining diversity in the gene pool.
For both profi t and pleasure, make use of all the by-products that you can.
Think about all the types of products or enterprises that you might be able to
spin off from your sheep project. (See the Resources section for a list of excel-
lent Web resources for marketing.)
It is useless to have a good product if no one knows about it. There are many
ways to fi nd the buyers who want your nice fl eeces or good meat, and the
method to use is the one that is most convenient for your situation.
You may opt to market your products through a cooperative effort with other
farmers, or you may decide to go it alone. You may choose to market through
conventional agricultural marketing systems, like sale barns and wool pools,
but you will net more cash fl ow from items you sell directly to consumers.
The easiest way to market fl eece is to contact the nearest place that teaches
spinning and weaving and leave your name there or talk to its students. Taking
samples of your fl eece could trigger an immediate response if what you show
is of excellent quality.
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