Best livestock farming handy to Melbourne?

[DT-P38]

I know most of this is going to sound really naive to the true experts, but I am doing some "tree change" research and (silly me) I trust the input from this wonderful community...

So where is the best VALUE (as in return for your $) livestock farming within an hour or so from Melbourne? Thinking mainly sheep with a few head of "table" cattle for self and extended family.

How big a commitment (land and $'s) is required to be making money in the first few years?

Would one require much training beyond working with good neighbours and local community experts (vet's, buyers/sellers, locals a the pub, etc)?

Any thoughts/ideas appreciated.

Cheers, Dave.

P.S. If I take my LR's to a farm will they breed too?

[Disco Muppet]

Can't help as far as locations in your area but I can tell you...

We have 15 sheep on 5 acres, and they really need more. They're just pets to us but it's still a big commitment in terms of upkeep, and that's just for 15....

You will not make money from farming, unless you're at a commercial level, or you manage to market all natural gluten soymilk caramel frappe-latte no added anything type produce to silly hippies willing to part with absurd sums of cash.
SWMBOs family run a small heard of cattle (sub 100) and that's a lot of work. And a lot of expense.
It's one thing to run a few for teh lolz or to eat but making money from farming doesn't really work like that.
We get by with just good advice and friendly neighbours, but our neighbour is a vet so that helps...

[33chinacars]

Sorry Dave but unless your going in for a few 100 acres you will only be loosing money. Even then you will need a job off farm.

Sheep to much up keep in my mind.

Beef could work. But again will take a bit of capital to get started. Long term plan.

I was a " small time " dairy farmer for 35 + years. Only milked 60 - 80 cows. That's not really enough these days . Was about 30 years ago but then I didn't have any overheads. + the wife worked as a nurse part time.

Due to a back injury had to get rid of milkers & slowly change over to beef. So you could say I've been broke for the last 2 years.

So unless you can find a real niche market and value add . Do lots of research. The old saying goes ." If you want to make a small fortune from farming start with a large one. " O and did I say.Do lots of research.

If you do decide to go down the beef route stick with the main breeds . Angus, Murray Grey or Hereford.

Gary

[reachjatt]

Interesting article something along the lines what Gary said earlier. Both dairy and meat industry is now numbers game.

US milk tsunami could swamp NZ dairying | Stuff.co.nz

[Hogarthde]

Living in the country can be a really wonderful experience, especially with kids, engaging with animals, i,e. cattle horses .fowls ,dogs , bombing around in old landies , appreciating native fauna and flora and vagaries of weather.

However ,to reiterate Muppet and Gary, you will never become viable.

But don't be discoureged by mere filthy lucre, get a few Weekly Times and continue your research. All the best.

dave

[Chops]

We used to run a small 100 acre farm with just sheep on it, and it's just not worth the effort commercially.
We had varying numbers of sheep, from as low as 100 up to 300+ lambs. Didn't seem to matter how hard we tried/planned etc, we still had to buy in feed, and the more animals you have, the more feed you need.
Then you need shearing shed/plant etc to handle them.
Unless your willing to invest big dollars in Super Fine Merino or something similar,, you won't get enough back from either meat or clip to pay the rates, let alone a loan.

My SIL has 14 acres and has a menagary (s?) of animals on it including eight or so sheep (killers) and a few cows (killers). John her partner has decided the sheep are going and to just keep the cows, as they are easier to handle.

I'm sorry to sound so glum about, but that's why so many farmers have bit the streets for work.
Having said all that, I'd give quids to have a few acres and grow all my own food, from a decent vegie patch to sheep for killing, and a cow for milk. Sometimes, in this scenario, you can trade and work together with neighbors to help each other out a lot, and live almost cost free as far as food goes.

[Don 130]

If you're hell bent on having a go with sheep despite what the previous answers have said, could I suggest you go for a breed of sheep that sheds it's wool and doesn't need mulesing etc., instead of the more common breeds. Even then, you'll have lots to keep you busy.

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestoc...shedding-sheep

Self-shedding sheep silence the shears - ABC Western Plains NSW - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

and a personal comment here, Dorper/merino cross lamb is superb eating.
Don.

[mike123]

As for location I can't help on that front but from my experience:

You should plan at having off-farm income. Try not to have any debt on the property. The banks will like to see the off-farm income before they'll loan money for it unless it is really a very productive property and you can demonstrate that you have experience with rural enterprises. Always consider the worst case - drought going of for several years. Never go into a rural property with rose coloured glasses. No sooner do you get a couple of good seasons then whamo the drought comes along and your back to square 1 (or square 0 as fences will still need to be maintained, vet supplies,...). Your input costs are rising every year and income isn't typically rising at the same rate for farming enterprises. ABARE 25 years ago indicated the future of farming would be larger enterprises and it has pretty much played out that way. Then with the purchase of a property you may find that you'll need to purchase various pieces of equipment - tractor, slasher, spray rig, tools, generator, welder, carry-all, .... Walk in walk out purchases can be a bonus with that aspect as long as it is the right equipment for your needs.

Beef cattle is an easier enterprise maintenance wise than sheep.

In saying all of this you could investigate small niche enterprises such as a small stud operation (eg, Belted Galloways) or look at essential oils, honey,...

Lifestyle is the plus on a farm for a family. Just make sure that the family is thinking the same way as you and go into it with open eyes.

(also make sure you have a good water supply - I prefer permanent creeks that can't be easily contaminated.)

[digger]

[COLOR="Navy"][SIZE="3"]

If you're hell bent on having a go with sheep despite what the previous answers have said, could I suggest you go for a breed of sheep that sheds it's wool and doesn't need mulesing etc., instead of the more common breeds. Even then, you'll have lots to keep you busy.

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestoc...shedding-sheep

Self-shedding sheep silence the shears - ABC Western Plains NSW - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

and a personal comment here, Dorper/merino cross lamb is superb eating.
Don.

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(sorry this covers a double post )

[digger]

If you're hell bent on having a go with sheep despite what the previous answers have said, could I suggest you go for a breed of sheep that sheds it's wool and doesn't need mulesing etc., instead of the more common breeds. Even then, you'll have lots to keep you busy.

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestoc...shedding-sheep

Self-shedding sheep silence the shears - ABC Western Plains NSW - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

and a personal comment here, Dorper/merino cross lamb is superb eating.
Don.

If you do go these and are anywhere near anyone who has merinos then you will be rubbing them the wrong way immediately!, If its thought any of these sheep have mingled with any merino stock (eg got into neighbours property etc) their whole wool clip will be assumed contaminated and same with breeding stock.

I only know one bloke who went this way and he has been treated as though he is a leper in the area he is in (all merino breeding and wool area)

It will also exclude merinos on that property in the near future after theyve been there...

Good luck..
have you thought about plants? (flowers/etc..)