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Many small acreages have the capability to graze animals. Good pastures are essential for quality animal grazing.(extension.usu.edu/files/agpubs/Pasture.pdf) The amount of forage available from the plants is generally the limiting factor in determining number of animals possible. There are many management practices that will positively influence the health and vigorous growth of the proper types of plants necessary for animal grazing. In Colorado grazing may be limited by weather, location, altitude, slope, aspect, soil types, plant species etc. All grazing animals need adequate pasture forage or need a mix of pasture and supplemental feeds in order to thrive and prosper. Different species of animals may graze in a different patterns and prefer different types of vegetation. The costs of feed needed when animals are unable to graze, need to be determined before animals are purchased. Many small enterprise grazing ventures has been scudded because owners have found that off season feed purchases are very expensive, especially if unplanned and unbudgeted. In most instances, profits that may be available to large commercial grazing operations, are simply not possible or are very limited on small acreage scenarios. Fencing that is appropriate for the kinds, types, and size of animals that are grazing needs to be a basic consideration and may also be expensive. It is imperative that fresh water is available at all times. Sources of drinking water for grazing animals need to be analyzed, and winter availability of drinking water is very important. Purchases of expensive breeding stock should be well analyzed, as profit potential from breeding stock sales on small acreages may be very limited. (www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/livestock.html)
HORSE GRAZING
Many small acreage landowners live where they do in order to own and enjoy horses. Designing a grazing program for your particular scenario is very important and can save money and help conserve resources if done properly. Horses can consume large quantities of forage so it may be necessary to feed a supplement to the horses, or limit grazing time with horses on small pastures. Feeding moderate amounts of concentrate type feeds such as grains, pre-mixed rations, cubes, pellets, etc. can often stretch pasture resources and allow plants to remain healthy and active. Limiting access time to pastures on a daily basis may also be beneficial such as 12 hours on pasture, 12 hours in the corral. When pastures are good, limited grazing can stretch the pasture resource without additional supplemental feeding of the horse. Horses produce large amounts of manure. Successfully managing manure as a useful resource on small acreages can also be an issue. Piling and composting may be a valuable alternative. Fences for horses may be anything from very complex to only an electric fence depending upon conditions and the individual kinds, types, and sizes of horses involved. (www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/horse.html)
BEEF CATTLE
Small beef enterprises, whether a hobby, profit, or consumer meat oriented can be feasible on some small acreages. Planning is necessary to determine a reasonable carrying capacity, the number of animals, and the timeframes they may be able to graze. Unless only seasonal in nature, hay or other feed resources will be needed for the enterprise. Reasonable and realistic budgets for feed costs need to be calculated on an annual or periodic basis. It is important to estimate the productivity of pastures before purchases of livestock. Fences for beef cattle need to be adequate for the age and type of cattle and can be very expensive when starting from scratch. Electric fences may be adequate in some instances. (www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/livestock.html)
SHEEP
Sheep can be a great small acreage venture. Good fences are definitely needed and also protection from predators and possibly even neighborhood dogs can be a major concern. As with all grazing species, determining the number of animals to graze, needs to be limited by the amount and quality of forage available to feed them. With good pastures, sheep can often graze many months of the year. Supplemental feeds may be necessary in winter, during periods of weather stress, when pastures are depleted, and during times of the year when animal production requirements dictate more nutrition is needed. Fresh water needs to be available at all times. With good facilities and good pastures, sheep can be a very enjoyable small acreage enterprise. Because of the small number of animals possible, profit may be limited or non-existent on a small acreage operation. Available labor and facility requirements also need to be analyzed. (www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/livestock.html)
LLAMAS AND ALPACAS
Llamas and alpacas are also grazing animals which may fit nicely with the disposition and interests of the small acreage landowner. Determining the number of animals or carrying capacity of the acreage is necessary before purchasing animals. As with most grazing animals, they consume large amounts of plant materials over the course if the year. Seemingly large amounts of pasture forages can disappear very quickly when summer weather is windy, hot, and dry. Investigate the llama and alpaca business very carefully before determining if there is any profit potential. In many places llamas no longer have any value as market livestock, and are valued only as pets or companion animals. (www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/llamas.html.)
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