Raising And Marketing Exotic Animals For Profit

Raising And Marketing Exotic Animals For Profit

This business of raising and selling rare or unusual animals,

where both expenses and profits are much bigger than normal.

Llamas, angora rabbits, mink, pheasant, snakes, bullfrogs,

spiders and miniature horses are but a few of the possibilities

in this large category.

Which animals you raise will of course be influenced by your own

preferences, the facilities you can provide, where you live, and

of course the market in your area. You can go into this business

from a hobby or just go out and buy a pair of whatever animals

you would like to raise.

The primary advantage to "exotic" rather than regular animals is

income potential. Raising ordinary rabbits requires far less

investment in breeding stock, facilities, care and time than

expensive, pedigreed angoras.

However, when its time to market ordinary rabbits, they are worth

perhaps two to five dollars each. Pedigreed angoras would be

worth many times that, especially if they had a blue ribbon

winner in their ancestry.

With a $100 animal, you have an incentive to provide the best

care and living conditions and call that $25 per hour

veterinarian at the first hint of trouble.

A litter of ordinary rabbits would represent about $50; angoras,

say $500. Needless to say, you have an incentive to invest more

in care of the more valuable investment.

The first step after deciding upon an animal that would fit your

situation is to learn all you can about that animal. Study its

habits, feed and shelter requirements and learn something about

diseases or genetic problems that might affect your ability to

properly care for them.

Although there is a good profit potential expensive animals

require more care and closer attention than ordinary farm stock

or pets... It would be very good idea to discuss your plans with

a veterinarian before going too far. Find out about normal health

problems, which ones you can treat, the cost of preventive care

(and the cost of veterinary treatment).

If you are not already equipped (facilities and experience), it

would be a good idea to begin with "ordinary" animals of the type

you plan to raise. Raise these until you are ready to progress to

more expensive, exotic breeds.

In other words, learn and make any mistakes with $5 animals, not

$50-$100! But be very careful when you change over. It imperative

to keep pedigreed and ordinary animals apart to prevent

inter-breeding. It is just as important to prevent the spread of

diseases borne by ordinary species, which are unusually much

more disease resistant.

Before placing your expensive, exotic breeds in quarters formerly

occupied by ordinary animals, take special precautions. Clean and

treat the areas thoroughly so your prized exotics can get started

in clean, disease and pest free living conditions.

Study potential diseases of the animals you select. Learn how to

prevent and even treat as many problems as you can. You don't

want to pay expensive veterinarian fees for things you can take

care of (or prevent) yourself.

Consider the weather in your area -- will you need heaters or

cooling for the animals you plan to raise?

How about feed or bedding materials? Check will feed stores on

the various types of feed (some have added vitamins and/are

medically treated.

Can you raise any of these things yourself or make a deal with a

nearby farmer to at least augment feeding costs?

When you have decided upon the animals you plan to raise, and

have learned of their care and habits, its is time to start

building pens, sheds and feeding areas.

Pay particular attention to safety of your charges (as well as

neighbors, if applicable) Birds, for example, not only need wire

cages to keep them in; they need strong wire to keep any

predators out.

This may include snakes that only 1/4 inch wire mesh about three

feet can repel. Also, take special care to arrange your pens or

cages so the animals will not be frightened or excited by their

surroundings, which could interfere with their development or

well-being. In some cases, it will be necessary to fence off a

buffer zone, build a solid fence or plant a hedge to make sure

your animals feel secure.

The exotic animal business will probably take time to build, but

can be especially rewarding for someone who is fond of animals.

Subscribe to a good trade journal and look into joining an

association of people interested in the same or similar animals.

Attend shows and fairs and enter your prize animals --not only

for the prize money, but for the recognition and prestige it will

afford your business. A blue ribbon will change a $20 rabbit into

a $200 rabbit instantly! Even the descendants of the the prize

rabbit will be worth more; especially if they are registered.

Exotic animals are raised for many different reasons -- as pets,

for their fur, wool, or feathers or food, as oddities for special

purposes or many combinations thereof.

Some of the businesses are quite unique: a man in California

raises tarantulae and "rents" them to jewelry stores. He delivers

them at closing time, places a large warning sign in the window

and picks them up each weekday morning. It seems break-ins have

dropped drastically in stores with "guard-tarantuals"!

Spiders are also raised for their webs (science labs use them);

snakes for their venom (used to make snake bite serum). The

business of raising laboratory mice is also very lucrative --

thousands are purchased by science centers every year.

For more ideas on exotic animals you might want to raise, check

out some books in the library and do some research; check with

discount book stores; exotic animal magazines, and spend some

time with a good encyclopedia. If you decide to get into the

exotic animal business, pick an animal you like and respect --

then treat it as something special. Not only is this right, it a

sound business principle.

If you want to get exotic prices for you exotic animals (or

products), "showcase" them as something special! Keep them and

their area in top condition. Let everyone see that your animals

are special (and valuable).

BUSINESS SOURCES

ALLEN PUBLISHING CO.,

1338 Allen Park Dr.,Salt Lake City,

UT.81405.

Publishes PHEASANT FANCIERS AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for

bird raisers.

KREMMERS PRESS,

Box 22, Fair Lawn,

NJ 07140.

Publishes AMERICAN SMALL STOCK FARMER for breeders of

rabbits and other small animals.

JOLLY-G RABBITRY,

13202 Cozzens, Chino,

CA 91790.

Wholesale rabbits, supplies.

R/C MODLEERS CORP.

144 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.,Sierra Madre,

CA 91024.

Publishes FRESHWATER MARINE AQUARIUM for the fish raising

trade.

STROMBERG'S

Pine River 59,

MN 56474.

Poultry, chicks, swans, peacocks, etc.

AMERICAN PIGEON JOURNAL,

220 E. Main St.,Warranton,

MO 63383, 314/456/2122.

Publication for pigeon raisers and dealers.

H.H. BACKER ASSOCIATES,

207 Wabash Ave.,Chicago,

IL 60606, 312/663-4040.

Publishes GROOM & BOARD and PET AGE, trade magazines for

pet groomers and dealers.

DADANT & SONS, INC.,

Hamilton,

IL 62341.

Publishes AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL for bee keepers.

JACK SHERCK & ASSOCIATES,

210 NW 10th St.,Abilene,

KS 67410,

800/645-0028.

Information on raising racing greyhounds in 14 states, investors and

partners.

HARCOURT BRACE JOBANOVICH PUBLICATIONS,

1 E 1st St.,Duluth, MN

55802,

218/723-9303.

Publishes monthly PETS/SUPPLIES/MARKETING for livestock and

pet suppliers, pet retailers and pet food manufacturers. World's

largest textbook company. Publishes many other trade journals.

SHOW RING MAGAZINE,

Box 1399, Albany,

TX 76430, 915/762-2242.

Monthly magazine about animal shows,farm livestock sales and the

purebred industry.

LLAMAS,

Box 325, Herald,

CA 95638.

Bimonthly magazine on raising and breeding of llamas. Has

classified ad section. Sample $4.

QUILL CORPORATION,

100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire,

IL 60917-4700,

312/634-4800.

IVEY PRINTING,

Box 761, Meridan,

TX 76665.

Low priced letterhead and envelopes.

ZPS,

Box 581, Libertyville,

IL 60048-2556.

Raised print business cards and letterhead. Will print your copy

ready logo or design, even whole card.

WALTER DRAKE,

4119 Drake Bldg.,Colorado Springs,

CO 80940.

Short run business cards, stationery. Good quality, but no choice of

ink.