What Equipment is Required for a Small Livestock Farm?
10/9/2024
Running a livestock farm, no matter the size, requires much hard work and dedication. Even small livestock farms involve many moving parts one misstep can compromise the entire operation. Having the proper equipment and tools ensures everything stays in sync. If you are ready to get started or optimize your small farm, invest in these essential tools and equipment for a harmonious operation.
Most small farms range from about 50-200 acres, which is far too much ground to cover on feet alone. Every farmer needs a vehicle to get around their property seamlessly. With a pickup truck, you can not only navigate your property but also transport items or livestock by adding a trailer to the rear of your truck.
In addition to a truck, a utility vehicle like the John Deere Gator can be another way for you to get around your property. Gators are compact utility vehicles that allow you to move around more quickly and efficiently than auto vehicles. They are built with durable reinforcements that enable them to move on any terrain. They are equipped with cargo boxes for you to transport tools and materials. They also have a variety of attachment options for you to take care of maintenance around your farm.
When you need a lot of power in a limited space, compact tractors are the perfect solution. Compact tractors are ideal for small farms that require a lot of heavy lifting, hauling, and earth-moving. John Deere has a compact tractor lineup with models ranging from 21-75 hp, making them suitable for a variety of tasks necessary to keep a livestock farm running. Explore the options we have available here.
A tractor doesn’t have much use without attachments, the most essential are loader attachments. The uses for your loader are endless for the day-to-day tasks on a farm. Whether you're clearing out waste, keeping stables and pastures clean, or transporting feed, a front-end loader makes completing these jobs faster and more efficient.
Keeping tall grasses, weeds, and overgrowth under control is another essential task for a high-functioning farm. There are various mower and cutter attachments designed for specific environments and terrains. A grooming mower attachment is similar to a traditional lawn mower in that it is designed to cut turf grass. A rotary cutter is made to handle tougher vegetation such as brush, weeds, and tall grasses, making it a great choice for clearing pastures.
If you are also running a hay operation to supplement your livestock, you need a baler to pick up your fresh hay. Available in many sizes, you can choose from either a round baler or a square baler depending on the goals of your farm. Round balers are typically a more popular choice since they are the most cost-effective. However, square bales are typically more compact and can be easier to handle.
Raising livestock comes with dealing with manure. The good news is you can use it to your advantage. With a manure spreader, you can clean up manure, let it dry, and use it as a natural fertilizer to spread on crops.
Nurturing crops is essential, especially when it comes to the crops your livestock rely on as feed. A sprayer makes this process a lot easier by precisely applying nutrients to wherever it's needed. This can help reduce pesky weeds in pastures and enhance the overall health of your crop.
Part of raising livestock is ensuring they are contained, which can be done with fencing. A post-hole digger for your tractor, lets you dig deep and precise holes so you can easily install fencing, poles, or whatever you need to implant in the ground.
Gear up with premium equipment for your small livestock farm at Tennessee Tractor. We have 11 locations across Tennessee with a dedicated staff and a fully-functioning service department at each one. Reach out to us today for more information on finding the right solutions for your farm.
