Development may include

• selecting a particular species and breed of livestock
• beef cattle—stockers, cow/calf, feedlot, seed stock, grass fed, natural
• dairy cattle—heifer grower, organic, traditional, seasonal, veal, grass fed
• swine—seed stock, farrow-to-finish, feeder pigs, finishers
• sheep and goats—fiber, meat, seed stock, dairy, feedlots
• poultry—turkeys, chickens, organic and specialty, ducks, free-range
• specialty—rabbits, aquaculture, bees, worms, alpacas and llamas, bison, oxen, mink, ostriches, pigeons, emus
• equine—breeding, training, boarding
• analyzing available resources
• selecting the most suitable production enterprise for local climate and markets
• designing a production enterprise system for an animal product.

Teacher Resource: Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Process/Skill Questions:

• What considerations should be taken when choosing a livestock species?
• What percentage of livestock enterprises in Virginia are classified as specialty?
• How much land is necessary for specific livestock?
• What animal production enterprise would be better suited for the local area?
• Which agencies are good resources for support when starting a livestock production enterprise?