Sovereignty Module: Tend the Flock
Tend the Flock
Complete Animal Husbandry: Breeding, Feeding, Health, and Harvest
Complete Animal Husbandry: Breeding, Feeding, Health, and Harvest
Animals provide food, fiber, labor, fertilizer, and companionship. This campaign covers selection, breeding, feeding, health, and humane harvest of livestock.
Chapter 1: Livestock Selection by Purpose
| Animal | Primary Products | Secondary Products | Space Needed | Feed Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | Eggs (300/year), meat | Pest control, fertilizer | 4 sq ft/bird (coop) + run | Very low (scraps + grain) | Very low |
| Rabbits | Meat (fast-growing), fur | Fertilizer (excellent) | 6-12 sq ft/rabbit | Low (hay + greens + pellets) | Low |
| Goats | Milk (1-3 qt/day), meat | Brush clearing, fiber (some breeds) | 200 sq ft/goat + pasture | Low-moderate | Low-moderate |
| Sheep | Wool (5-15 lbs/year), meat | Milk, lanolin, fertilizer | 200 sq ft/sheep + pasture | Low (pasture + hay) | Low-moderate |
| Pigs | Meat (fast-growing, efficient) | Lard, leather, fertilizer | 80 sq ft/pig | Moderate (grain + scraps) | Moderate |
| Cattle (dairy) | Milk (3-8 gal/day) | Meat, leather, draft power, fertilizer | 1-2 acres/cow | High (pasture + hay + grain) | Moderate-high |
| Cattle (beef) | Meat, leather | Draft power, fertilizer | 2-5 acres/cow | Moderate (pasture + hay) | Moderate |
| Horses | Labor (draft, riding) | Manure | 2-5 acres/horse | High (hay + grain + pasture) | High |
| Bees | Honey (30-60 lbs/hive/year), wax | Pollination (critical for crops) | Minimal (hive + forage range) | None (self-feeding) | Moderate |
| Ducks | Eggs (200-300/year), meat | Pest control (slugs), fertilizer | 6 sq ft/duck + water access | Low | Very low |
Chapter 2: Breeding Principles
| Principle | Application | Result | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select best performers | Breed only from top 20% producers | Gradual improvement each generation | 3-5 generations visible |
| Avoid inbreeding | Never breed parent-offspring or siblings | Prevents genetic defects | Ongoing (maintain records) |
| Introduce new genetics | Trade breeding stock with other communities | Hybrid vigor, new traits | Every 3-5 generations |
| Cull poor performers | Remove from breeding (not necessarily kill) | Prevents decline | Every generation |
| Record keeping | Track parentage, production, health | Informed breeding decisions | Ongoing |
Breeding calendar: Chickens: hatch spring (21 days incubation). Goats: breed fall, kid spring (150 days gestation). Sheep: breed fall, lamb spring (147 days). Pigs: breed any time, farrow 114 days later. Cattle: breed spring/summer, calve spring (283 days).
Chapter 3: Feeding and Nutrition
| Animal | Daily Feed (per animal) | Protein Need | Water Need | Supplements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken (layer) | 1/4 lb grain + scraps + forage | 16-18% | 1 pint | Calcium (oyster shell), grit |
| Rabbit | 4-6 oz pellets + unlimited hay + greens | 16-18% | 1-2 cups | Salt lick, hay (fiber critical) |
| Goat (dairy) | 3-5 lbs hay + 1-2 lbs grain + browse | 14-16% | 1-3 gallons | Minerals (copper, selenium), salt |
| Sheep | 3-5 lbs hay + pasture | 12-14% | 1-2 gallons | Mineral block (NO copper for sheep) |
| Pig (growing) | 5-8 lbs grain/feed + scraps | 14-16% | 3-5 gallons | Salt, minerals |
| Cow (dairy) | 30-50 lbs hay + 10-20 lbs grain + pasture | 14-16% | 15-30 gallons | Minerals, salt |
| Horse (working) | 15-25 lbs hay + 5-15 lbs grain | 10-12% | 10-15 gallons | Salt, minerals |
Chapter 4: Common Diseases and Treatment
| Disease | Species | Signs | Treatment | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coccidiosis | Poultry, rabbits | Bloody droppings, lethargy | Apple cider vinegar, clean housing | Clean dry bedding, don't overcrowd |
| Bloat | Cattle, goats, sheep | Distended left side, distress | Walk animal, massage rumen, trocar (emergency) | Gradual diet changes, avoid wet legumes |
| Foot rot | Sheep, goats, cattle | Lameness, foul smell, hoof decay | Trim hoof, zinc sulfate foot bath | Dry ground, regular hoof trimming |
| Mastitis | Dairy animals | Hot/hard udder, abnormal milk | Strip frequently, warm compress, antibiotics if severe | Clean milking, teat dip, dry clean bedding |
| Worms (internal parasites) | All species | Weight loss, poor coat, anemia | Herbal dewormers (wormwood, garlic) or chemical | Rotational grazing, don't overstock |
| Egg binding | Poultry | Straining, lethargy, swollen vent | Warm bath, calcium, lubricate vent | Adequate calcium, not too fat |
| Pneumonia | All species | Cough, nasal discharge, fever | Isolate, keep warm/dry, antibiotics if available | Ventilation, avoid drafts, reduce stress |
| Scours (diarrhea) | Young animals | Watery stool, dehydration | Electrolytes, isolate, keep warm | Colostrum within 1 hour of birth, clean environment |
Chapter 5: Humane Harvest
| Animal | Method | Equipment | Processing Time | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | Cervical dislocation or cone + knife | Killing cone, sharp knife | 30-60 minutes (pluck + gut) | 3-5 lbs meat |
| Rabbit | Cervical dislocation | Hands (quick twist) | 20-30 minutes (skin + gut) | 2-4 lbs meat |
| Pig | Stun (captive bolt) + bleed | Captive bolt or .22 rifle, knife | 4-8 hours (full processing) | 100-200 lbs meat |
| Sheep/goat | Stun + bleed | Captive bolt or knife (halal/kosher) | 2-4 hours | 30-60 lbs meat |
| Cattle | Stun (captive bolt) + bleed | Captive bolt, knife, hoist | 8-16 hours (full processing) | 400-800 lbs meat |
Principles: Quick, painless death. Animal should not see others killed. Sharp tools. Immediate bleed-out (unconsciousness in seconds). Respect the animal — it gives its life for your sustenance. Waste nothing.
Chapter 6: Products and Preservation
| Product | Processing | Storage Method | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh meat | Butcher within hours of kill | Refrigerate or use immediately | 3-7 days (cold) | Hang beef 7-14 days for tenderness |
| Smoked meat | Salt-cure 7-14 days, then smoke 12-48 hours | Hang in cool, dry place | 3-12 months | Hardwood smoke (hickory, oak, apple) |
| Jerky | Slice thin, salt, dry (sun or smoke) | Sealed container, cool and dry | 6-12 months | Slice with grain, 1/4 inch thick |
| Lard/tallow | Render fat (low heat, strain) | Sealed container, cool | 1-2 years | Use for cooking, soap, candles, waterproofing |
| Leather | Tan hide (brain or bark method) | Dry, store flat or rolled | Indefinite | See leather campaign for full process |
| Bone meal | Dry bones, grind/crush | Sealed container | Indefinite | Excellent fertilizer (phosphorus + calcium) |
| Wool | Shear, wash, card, spin | Store clean and dry (moth-proof) | Indefinite | Shear spring, before hot weather |
| Eggs | Collect daily | Water glass (sodium silicate) preservation | 6-12 months | Coat in mineral oil for 2-3 month storage |
| Cheese | Milk + rennet + culture + aging | Wax-coated, cool cave/cellar | 6 months - 5 years | Hard cheeses store longest |
Reference Card
- Start with chickens: easiest livestock. Eggs daily, meat in 8-12 weeks, eat scraps, minimal space.
- Goats: best dairy for small homestead. Hardy, browse on brush, 1-3 quarts milk/day. Easier than cows.
- Breeding: keep records. Breed best to best. Never inbreed. Introduce new genetics every 3-5 generations.
- Feed: hay is foundation for all ruminants. Grain supplements production. Fresh water always available.
- Health: prevention beats treatment. Clean housing, don't overcrowd, rotational grazing, quarantine new animals.
- Humane harvest: quick, painless, respectful. Sharp tools. Immediate bleed-out. Waste nothing.
- Preservation: smoke, salt, dry, or ferment meat. Render all fat (lard/tallow). Tan all hides. Grind bones for fertilizer.
- Bees: critical for crop pollination. 30-60 lbs honey/year per hive. Beeswax for candles, waterproofing, polish.
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