So, You Want To Be An Animal Owner Developed by: Holly George, University of California Extension Service Susie Kocher, University of California Extension Service Bruce Miller, Utah State University Melody Hefner, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

We’ll be covering: What are the legal considerations? Why have animals? What do animals cost, in terms of time and money? What do animals need? What can your land support?

What legal limitations apply to my property?

Legal considerations Zoning Special use permits Covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) Local ordinances

Zoning Imposed by local government Agricultural, urban, rural, commercial Each zone has regulations on animals Some may require a permit

Special use permits Required in some zones Require application and environmental review Require information about your property May be denied or granted with special conditions

Covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) Some neighborhoods restrict animals through CC&Rs

Local ordinances Right-to-farm ordinances Open-range ordinances

Your property Zoning CC&Rs Grazing NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Why have animals?

Animal ownership Pros Cons RelaxingTime-consuming Close to natureHard to get away Teaches children skills Costly Fun family activityMiddle of night work Supplemental incomeMay be dangerous

Balancing pros and cons

UNCE, Reno, Nev. Is it worth it?

Articulating your goals Why do I want a …? What kind of ….? How much time do I have to spend with a …..? Where would I keep a …? Other options?

What does it cost to keep an animal? USU, Logan, UT

Animal costs: Horse Initial costs Operational costs NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Horse Costs Initial Investment: Animal Equipment Facilities Total $1000 $ 843 $2360 $4203 Annual Operating Cost: Feed Health care Other Total $854 $302 $1302 $2458 TOTALFirst year =$6661 (or $18.25/day) TOTALEach year after =~$2500 (or $6.85/day)

How much time will it take? Maintaining animals Maintaining equipment Maintaining facilities

Maintaining animals Feeding Exercising Handling

How much time does it take to care for a horse? Feeding1 hour/day Containment2 hours/month Manure disposal10-12 hours/month Shoes, vet, etc10-12 hours/year Exercising and grooming 6 hours/week minimum

Maintaining facilities Fence maintenance Pasture Irrigation Trailers and trucks Barn/shelter

Alternatives to ownership How else can your goals of horse ownership be satisfied?

Example: riding lessons Cost of lessons1 lesson/week2 lessons/week $30/hour$30$60 Cost of ownership, first year Ride 1 hour/ week Ride 2 hours/ week $18.25/day$127.75$63.88 Cost of ownership after first year Ride 5 hours/ week Ride 9 hours/ week $6.85/day$34.25$61.65

Balance the pros and cons before deciding UNCE, Reno, Nev.

What do animals need? USU, Logan UT

Animal needs and resources Food Water Space Shelter Health care TLC

Feed or forage costs How much forage will my land provide?

Forage production depends on: Climate and moisture Soil type Your management system Irrigation availability NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Annual forage production estimates TYPE OF PASTURE FERTILE SOILS (Tons/acre) POOR SOILS (Tons/acre) Irrigated2 - 4<2 Non-irrigated or less Range/ Woodland 10.5 or less

Forage production estimation Use previous table Use soil survey crop yield report Use local production figures (USFS, NRCS, County Agricultural Reports, etc.)

Animal needs and resources Food Water Space Shelter Health care TLC

All animals need water Water needs will vary by animal size, reproductive status and weather Average animal needs:  Beef cow or horse – 12 to 15 gallons/day  Pig – 1 to 5 gallons/day  Llama – 2 to 5 gallons/day  Sheep or goat – 1 to 3 gallons/day These needs may double on hot days

How will you get water to your animals? UCES

Animal watering considerations Type and location of available water source(s) Site location and condition Type of grazing system Number of livestock Access to power source Pumping system Flexibility and portability Reliability and maintenance needs Temporary or seasonal water storage Cost, including maintenance Personal preference

Where should I put the water? Locate water source away from shade, food and minerals Consider local regulations Stock watering source should be at least 100 feet from open water sources, wellheads and septic systems

What are my stock watering options? Stream or pond water gaps Springs Water hauling Water troughs or tanks, with or without automated pumps Nose pumps Automatic waterers

Stream or pond access ramps

Adapted from by A. Millerwww.agric.gov.ab.ca NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Springs

Water hauling USU, Logan, UT

Water troughs or tanks

Pipeline systems Buried line Surface line

Pipeline system pumping options Gravity-feed systems Solar-powered pumps Windmill pumping systems Gas- or diesel-powered pumps

Gravity-feed pumping systems

Solar-powered pumps

Windmill pumping systems

Gas- or diesel-powered pumps

Nose pumps

Automatic waterers

Animal needs and resources Food Water Space Shelter Health care TLC

What kind of fence do I want? USU, Logan, UT

Fencing considerations Balance looks, functionality and economics Safety of animals and people Installed or do-it-yourself Life expectancy Annual maintenance costs

Fencing types Type depends on:  Purpose  Soil type  Terrain  Weather  Safety  Construction costs  Availability of power  Maintenance requirements  Visual impacts  CC&Rs Missoula Conservation District, Mont.

Vinyl 3-rail or 4-rail Cost  $5 to $7/ft materials  $5 to $7/ft labor Pros  Visually appealing  Low maintenance  Last many years Cons  Expensive  3-rail may not be best choice for horses USU, Logan, UT

Six-foot-tall chain link Cost  $10 to $12/ft materials  $10 to $12/ft labor Pros  Security  Good for small animals  Low-maintenance  Long lifetime  Can get colors to blend with surroundings Cons  Not typically used with large animals  May not mesh with surroundings  May be regulated by CC&Rs USU, Logan, UT

Privacy wood Cost  $12/ft materials  $12/ft labor Pros  Can be visually appealing  Good for small animals  Provides a visual block Cons  Not typically used for large animals  Expensive  High maintenance  Often short lifetime USU, Logan, UT

Woven wire Cost  $1.25 to $2.25/ft Pros  Readily available  Good for sheep  Add 1 to 2 strands of barbed wire at top for cattle Cons  Expensive  Requires routine maintenance

4- to 10-strand smooth wire Cost  $0.75 to $1.30/ ft, depending on number of wires Pros  4- to 5-strand good for horses  10-strand will contain all large livestock and exclude large wildlife  Durable  Can be electrified Cons  Expensive  Requires routine maintenance

4-strand barbed wire Cost  Varies Pros  Low cost  Easy to install  Fairly low maintenance Cons  Dangerous to people, livestock and wildlife  Not suitable for horses  Not useful for small animals  Can be damaged by large wildlife USU, Logan, UT

Cost  $6/ft materials  $5/ft labor Pros  Visually appealing  Handles heavy snowfall  Can be adjusted or small animals by adding mesh Cons  High maintenance  Lifetime?  Need additional fencing materials for small animals  May need hot wire for livestock Wood rail or post USU, Logan, UT

Jackleg NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Cost  $4.50/ft Pros  Good in areas where it is hard to dig or drive posts  Visually appealing  Durable  Handles heavy snowfall  Can be adapted to marshy or wet areas  Low maintenance Cons  High labor and materials costs during construction  UV stability?

Electric ribbon Cost  1½ inch ribbon $.15/ft  Wood post $8 to $12  T-posts 6’ $7 to $8  Insulators $.25 to $.50 each Pros  Versatile  Easy to install and modify  Can be used to make existing fence more effective  Easier to see than other types of electric fencing Cons  Cost and availability of electricity or solar source  Maintenance  Not a good choice for a permanent fence USU, Logan, UT

Electric fence Cost  Dependent on materials  $1.50 to $5/ft materials  $1.50 to $5/ft labor Pros  Portable  Inexpensive  Versatile  Can make an existing fence more effective Cons  Difficult to see  Dangerous to people (children) and wildlife  Maintenance? USU, Logan, UT

Electric fencing - temporary Cost  Variable Pros  Great for interior fencing  Portable - reels  Inexpensive Cons  Can be difficult to see (color variations ease this problem)  Can be dangerous

New Zealand electric fencing Cost  5-wire fence $1 to $2/linear ft of fence, depending on number of wires and post spacing Pros  Versatile  Eliminates grounding out on foliage  Reduces fire danger Cons  Powerful shock produced UCES WSU Extension

Prefabricated panels Costs: Metal 2-inch round tubing panels  12 feet length, $  Gates, approximately $ Cattle and hog panels  16 feet long by 52 inches high, $28  16 feet long by 34 inches high, $24.50 Pros  Durable and strong  Good for large livestock  Panels allow for different configurations  Low-maintenance Cons  Expensive  Less visually appealing  Not good for small animals USU, Logan, UT

Poultry netting Cost  1-inch hexagonal holes, 48-inch-high 150 ft rolls, $75 Pros  Inexpensive  Lightweight  Can be used with existing fences  Good for small animals  Good for small wildlife exclusion Cons  Low strength – will stretch and/or collapse by itself  Not effective for large animals or livestock  Needs frequent monitoring and maintenance USU, Logan, UT

There are many other options Field fence roll, 47 inch 4-strand #10 wire No-climb fencing Cost  Varies, based on materials, size and availability of both materials and labor force USU, Logan, UT

Animal needs and resources Food Water Space Shelter Health care TLC

What kind of shelter do I want for my animals? What kind of shelter do my animals need?

Considerations for shelter Needs to provide adequate shelter for local weather conditions  summer  winter Durable Reasonable maintenance costs Visually appealing COSTS

Shelter Can be simple or elaborate Costs vary widely USU, Logan, UT Motel 7 The Ritz

Pole structures Cost  Relatively low $8 to $15/ft 2 Pros  Low-cost  Easy to install and maintain  Easy to clean Cons  Only provide basic shelter  Consider placement  Less protection than a barn  Noise USU, Logan, UT

Metal buildings Cost  $15 to $30/ft 2  Concrete floor may be 40% of cost Pros  More protection than pole structures  Can be built on site  Versatile  Low-maintenance  Moderate cost Cons  Not as visually pleasing  May not mesh with surroundings  Summer heat may be a problem  Is a concrete floor good for hooves? USU, Logan, UT

Specialized structures – barns, etc. NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Cost  $50 to $275+/ft 2 Pros  Convenient  Visually appealing  Designed specifically to meet needs  Can be built to mesh with existing structures and landscape  Increase in property value Cons  Expensive  Constant upkeep needed  Cannot be moved  Resale can be limited USU, Logan, UT

Animal needs and resources Food Water Space Shelter Health care TLC

Animal needs and resources Food Water Space Shelter Health care TLC

So, do you still want to be an animal owner? Now you have a clearer picture of the factors involved in animal ownership, and you can make informed choices. Homework: Complete your Animal Ownership Goals Activity Sheets, if you did not finish them in class. They will become part of your permanent record.