Volume 1 Issue 6 - December 2006

by Phil Rogers

Farming is a business, in which the objective is to make a reasonable livelihood for the farmer and his/her family. The market value of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and other farm animals reared for food or consumable products is low and fickle. Unless farm size is large, i.e. can carry large numbers of animals, farm net income can vary from subsistence level to poor. This is because animals reared for their milk, meat, hides or other consumer products leave but a modest net profit per head. For example, without the EU Farm Support Systems, EU suckler-cow and cattle dry-stock farmers would make a net loss each year.