Step 9: Raising and Breeding Livestock

General Options

Raising and breeding livestock can be a rewarding and practical way to achieve self-sufficiency. Whether you are interested in raising 

• chickens for eggs, 
• goats for milk and other dairy delights, or 
• sheep for wool, general lawn mower and meat,

there are many other animal options to choose from.

Primary Factors to Consider

Before you start raising livestock, it is important to do your research and choose the right animals for your needs and location. Consider factors such as 

1. the space and resources you have available, 
2. the climate and weather patterns in your area, and 
3. any local regulations or restrictions. 

You should also consider the specific characteristics of the animals you are interested in, such as 

1. their dietary needs, 
2. shelter requirements,
3. water requirements – most duck breeds for instance require far more water than chickens do;
4. behavior, and 
5. breeding patterns,
6. level of medical or veternarian support required.

Once you have chosen the right animals, you should also be prepared to handle any emergencies or injuries that may arise.

Breeding Considerations

Breeding livestock can be a way to increase your self-sufficiency, as well as a source of income if you decide to sell the offspring. However, it is important to be responsible and considerate when breeding animals, and to follow any local laws or regulations that apply.

If you intend to focus only on maximising production with little care about the animal itself, you may want to just buy in commercially produced – or factory made ‘meat’. …yummy…? Otherwise, strike a happy balance between raising happy, blessed livestock that happily produce their offsprings for you.

The Core Essence of Sustainable Self-Sufficiency

Overall, raising and breeding livestock can be a fulfilling and practical way to achieve self-sufficiency. However, remember that it is not about greed, over-indulgence, or over-producing just because you can. 

Sustainable self-sufficiency is about meeting the needs of your loved ones and those of the stranger, the widow and the orphan in your neck of the woods. It’s about becoming Goshen wherever you find yourself – and that should be for both people and animal alike. A safe, kind and blessed place. A refuge in hardship.

And no! I am not vegan. What I am, and encourage you to be, is aware of the simple fact that God entrusted this world to us to bring it into divine order – from the fall of Lucifer, to the fall of man. It’s our primary job to re-establish God’s governance in all things – spiritually and physically.

By choosing the right animals and providing them with proper care, you can create a sustainable and rewarding system for yourself, your family, and your community.