Skip to main content

Logo for N.C. Cooperative Extension N.C. Cooperative Extension Homepage

Frequently Asked Livestock Questions

en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQ) for livestock.

1.Can you recommend a Veterinarian, a farrier, an insurance company, a shearer, and/or a list of equipment available for rent for my livestock/horses?

A: Visit go.ncsu.edu/livestockvet to access a directory. Contact April Bowman, or 336-593-8179 to have your name added, edited, or removed from the list.

2. What livestock species should I raise?

A:  YOU and your “tribe” have to answer that question. What types of animals do you enjoy? How much land do you have? What is your market? Here is a link to a great hand-out to help you decide what animals might work best for the amount of land that you have.

3. Do I need my meat handler’s license?

A:  If you plan to handle any meat, then yes, you do. Call the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 919-707-3180 to request an inspection of your freezer.

You may find it helpful to read their Frequently Asked Questions before calling

4. Are there grants to help me start farming?

A: There are very few grants to help you start farming. There are a few to help you expand an existing farm operation. This article, Are There Grants for Farmers?, sums it up nicely.

Here is a link to Government Funds for Farming and Information about Farm Numbers 

Carolina Farm Stewards lists financial resources.

5. Do I need a farm number/how do I get one?

A: Visit HOW & WHY TO GET A FARM NUMBER 

6. What is present-use value (PUV)/how can I reduce my property taxes on my farm?

A: The basics from NC State Farm Law

The program guide from the NC Department of Revenue.

Stokes County property owners may call 336-593-2811 Ext. 1617.

7. Where can I get my chickens processed?

A: We have a Mobile Poultry Processing Unit that you can rent for a small fee if you’re interested in processing them yourself
Find a list of on-farm poultry processors

8. Can I sell eggs directly to consumers from my home?

A: Farmers can sell less than 30 dozen eggs per week from their homes, but the carton should be labeled with the farmer’s name, address, and the words “ungraded eggs”. Learn more at Selling Eggs, Meat, and Poultry in North Carolina: What Farmers Need to Know

9. What equipment do you have for rent? 

A:  We have lots of great tools available to assist you!

  • Soil probe to gather soil for testing  – no rental fee
  • Hay probe to sample hay for testing  – no rental fee
  • Hay temperature/moisture meter  – $5 rental fee
  • Mobile Poultry Processing Unit and tag along trailer  – $75 for up to four days
  • Cattle scales (can be used for smaller livestock as well)  – $20 for up to three days
  • Meat grinder and butcher kit  – $50 for up to three days
  • Thirty Tartar Cattle panels on a tag along trailer  – $35 for up to three days

Visit Rental Equipment for more information

10. Do my livestock need special tags?

A:  All swine must be tagged with a tag recognized by the NC Department of Agriculture in order to be transported on a public road. Visit Livestock – Swine ID to learn more.

All sheep and goats are required to have an official scrapie tag before leaving your farm. Request tags for your flock or herd with this form.

Livestock producers may choose to register with the NC Farm ID Program (attached). Cattle producers may request up to 100 Electronic Identification button tags when a producer either signs up with NC Farm ID or has a Farm ID but needs Electronic Identification buttons, as well as a tag applicator. Email NCFarmID@ncagr.gov with questions.

Information about the Got to Be NC Livestock tag program may be accessed at NCDA&CS – Livestock or NC Livestock.

11. Help  – I have dead livestock and I don’t know what happened, or what to do.

A: Your veterinarian can do a necropsy and possibly determine what happened. You can also take food animals to the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Animal Diagnostic Laboratory.

You may take the dead animal to the Forsyth Landfill on Hanes Mill Road (4 X 4 is recommended). NC General Statute Chapter 106, Article 34 states that animals must be buried on your property, at least three feet deep, within 24 hours of being found, but farther than 300 feet from any flowing stream or public body of water.

12. I want to process meat rabbits for sale. Can you help me?

A: Learn more about rabbit processing

13. I have an animal emergency; what do I do?

A: If your animal is sick, you should contact your veterinarian (see question #1). If your animal is stuck in the mud, cast in a stall, stuck in a creek, etc., and you are unable to get it up; and/or their life is in danger, you can call emergency services at 9-1-1. Stokes County is a member of the Piedmont Emergency Animal Response Team (PE-ART) response area and trained volunteers may be able to assist you via phone and/or in-person. There is also an Animal Emergency Response Manual that lists other animal response teams, and shares some basic animal rescue techniques.

14. What fertilizer should I put out?

A:  You should first do a soil test. Soil tests are free from April through Thanksgiving at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and are $4 from December through March. Soil sample kits are available for free from N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center at 700 N. Main Street, Danbury, NC Monday – Friday from 8:30-5 (except public Holidays). Learn more about submitting soil samples here.

15. How do I take a soil sample?

Visit our Soil Testing webpage at https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-livestock-forage/forage-management-resources/soil-testing-resources/.

Have another question? Contact April Bowman, Stokes County Livestock Extension Agent, or 336-593-8179.