Sovereignty Module: Tend the Flock
Complete Livestock Management: From Selection to Breeding
Animals multiply human labor, provide food, fiber, leather, and companionship. This campaign covers selection, housing, feeding, breeding, health, and processing for all major livestock species.
Chapter 1: Species Selection
| Animal | Products | Space Needed | Feed/Day | Water/Day | Difficulty | ROI Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens (laying) | Eggs, meat, feathers, pest control | 4 sq ft/bird (coop) + run | 1/4 lb feed | 1 cup | Very low | 5-6 months |
| Goats (dairy) | Milk, cheese, meat, fiber, brush clearing | 200 sq ft/goat + pasture | 4-5 lbs hay + browse | 1-2 gal | Low | 1-2 years |
| Rabbits | Meat, fur, manure (garden gold) | 12 sq ft/rabbit | 4-6 oz pellets + hay | 1-2 cups | Very low | 3-4 months |
| Sheep | Wool, meat, milk, lanolin | 200 sq ft + pasture | 4-5 lbs hay/grass | 1-2 gal | Low-moderate | 1-2 years |
| Pigs | Meat, lard, leather, waste disposal | 80 sq ft/pig | 6-8 lbs feed/scraps | 2-3 gal | Low-moderate | 6-8 months |
| Cattle (dairy) | Milk, butter, cheese, meat, leather, draft | 1-2 acres/head | 25-30 lbs hay/grass | 10-20 gal | Moderate | 2-3 years |
| Cattle (beef) | Meat, leather, tallow, draft | 1-2 acres/head | 25-30 lbs grass | 10-15 gal | Low-moderate | 18-24 months |
| Ducks | Eggs, meat, pest control, down | 6 sq ft/bird + water access | 1/4 lb feed + forage | 1 cup + pond | Low | 5-6 months |
| Bees | Honey, wax, pollination | 1 hive = 2x2 ft | Self-feeding (flowers) | Water source nearby | Moderate | 1 year |
| Horses | Draft power, transport, manure | 1-2 acres | 20-25 lbs hay + grain | 8-12 gal | High | 3-4 years (training) |
Priority order for new settlement: 1) Chickens (immediate eggs, low input). 2) Goats (milk within months, browse on anything). 3) Rabbits (fastest meat production). 4) Bees (pollination + honey, minimal labor). 5) Pigs (waste conversion, fast growth). 6) Sheep (wool for clothing). 7) Cattle (only when pasture established).
Chapter 2: Housing and Fencing
| Animal | Shelter Type | Fencing | Predator Protection | Winter Needs | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | Coop (enclosed at night) | 4-5 ft fence or covered run | Lock up at night, hardware cloth | Insulated coop, no drafts | Ventilation without drafts |
| Goats | Three-sided shelter | 5 ft fence (they climb/jump) | Secure at night, guardian animal | Dry shelter, deep bedding | Must stay dry (hate rain) |
| Sheep | Three-sided shelter | 4 ft woven wire | Guardian dog/llama | Windbreak, dry ground | Susceptible to foot rot if wet |
| Pigs | Sturdy shelter + wallow | Electric or very strong fence | Pigs defend themselves | Insulated shelter, deep straw | Need mud/shade in heat |
| Cattle | Open shelter optional | 4-5 ft barbed/electric | Size is their defense | Windbreak, hay access | Hardy, minimal shelter |
| Rabbits | Hutch (raised, wire floor) | Hutch contains them | Hutch protects | Insulated hutch, wind block | Protect from heat (>85°F kills) |
Chapter 3: Feeding and Nutrition
| Animal | Primary Feed | Supplement | Mineral | Treats/Extras | Overfeeding Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | Layer feed or grain mix | Calcium (oyster shell) | Grit (small stones) | Kitchen scraps, bugs | Obesity, reduced laying |
| Goats | Hay (grass or legume) + browse | Grain (milking does only) | Loose mineral (goat-specific) | Fruit, vegetables | Bloat, urinary calculi |
| Sheep | Grass/hay | Grain (pregnant/nursing only) | Mineral block (no copper!) | Root vegetables | Copper toxicity (fatal) |
| Pigs | Grain mix + scraps | Pasture/garden waste | Salt, mineral | Nearly anything edible | Fat = less meat value |
| Cattle | Grass/hay (90%+ of diet) | Grain (dairy/finishing only) | Salt block + mineral | Apples, root vegetables | Acidosis from too much grain |
| Rabbits | Hay (unlimited timothy) | Pellets (limited) | Salt lick | Fresh greens, herbs | GI stasis, obesity |
Feed storage: Keep all grain/feed in metal containers (rats cannot chew through). Elevate off ground (moisture). Rotate stock (first in, first out). Inspect for mold (mycotoxins kill livestock). Calculate 30-day reserve minimum. Hay must be dry (wet hay = mold = fire risk from spontaneous combustion).
Chapter 4: Breeding
| Animal | Maturity | Gestation | Offspring/Year | Breeding Ratio | Productive Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | 5-6 months | 21 days (incubation) | 50-200 chicks possible | 1 rooster : 8-12 hens | 2-4 years (laying) |
| Goats | 7-10 months | 150 days (5 months) | 1-3 kids/year | 1 buck : 25-30 does | 8-12 years |
| Sheep | 7-12 months | 147 days (5 months) | 1-3 lambs/year | 1 ram : 30-50 ewes | 6-10 years |
| Pigs | 6-8 months | 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days) | 8-14 piglets/litter, 2 litters/year | 1 boar : 15-20 sows | 4-6 years |
| Cattle | 15-18 months | 283 days (9.5 months) | 1 calf/year | 1 bull : 25-30 cows | 10-15 years |
| Rabbits | 4-6 months | 31 days | 6-10 kits/litter, 4-6 litters/year | 1 buck : 5-10 does | 3-4 years |
Breeding selection criteria: 1) Health (no chronic illness, good body condition). 2) Temperament (calm animals are safer and more productive). 3) Production (best milkers, best layers, fastest growers). 4) Conformation (correct structure = longevity). 5) Mothering ability (good mothers raise more offspring). 6) Avoid inbreeding (rotate males every 2-3 years, trade with neighbors).
Chapter 5: Health and Common Problems
| Animal | Common Issues | Prevention | Treatment | Emergency Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | Mites, respiratory, egg-binding | Clean coop, dust bath, ventilation | Diatomaceous earth, isolation | Gasping, bloody stool, paralysis |
| Goats | Parasites, bloat, mastitis | Rotational grazing, clean water | Dewormers, baking soda, massage | Grinding teeth, distended belly |
| Sheep | Foot rot, parasites, fly strike | Trim hooves, rotate pasture | Foot bath (zinc sulfate), shearing | Limping, wool loss, maggots |
| Pigs | Parasites, sunburn, pneumonia | Mud wallow, shelter, deworming | Dewormers, shade, ventilation | Not eating, coughing, fever |
| Cattle | Bloat, pinkeye, calving difficulty | Gradual feed changes, fly control | Trocar (bloat), antibiotics | Straining >2 hours, down cow |
| Rabbits | GI stasis, snuffles, heat stroke | Unlimited hay, clean housing, shade | Simethicone, isolation, cooling | Not eating >12 hours, head tilt |
Universal health practices: 1) Quarantine new animals 30 days. 2) Observe daily (know normal behavior to spot abnormal). 3) Clean water always (dirty water = disease). 4) Rotate pastures (breaks parasite cycles). 5) Trim hooves regularly (goats, sheep every 6-8 weeks). 6) Isolate sick animals immediately. 7) Keep records (breeding dates, treatments, production).
Reference Card
- Start small (3-5 chickens teach more than books — scale up after success). 2. Fencing before animals (escaped livestock = dead livestock or destroyed gardens). 3. Water is non-negotiable (dehydration kills faster than starvation — automate if possible). 4. Hay in summer, feed in winter (stockpile during abundance for scarcity). 5. Rotate pastures (prevents parasites, improves grass, extends carrying capacity). 6. Breed the best, eat the rest (ruthless selection improves the herd every generation). 7. Guardian animals work (one llama or dog saves dozens of sheep from predators). 8. Rabbits are secret weapons (fastest meat production per square foot of any livestock).