I've got a 50 acre tract of land that is high fenced into 2 fields. Its inside of a 500 tract of low fence land that I own. I'm wanting to get into breeding and raising some kind of high valued exotic. I'm not interested in the common exotics as they seem to be a dime a dozen. I was thinking of some type of sheep or antelope. The property is located in south Texas.

I'm looking for some help and suggestions on what kind of animal should we have. Also the pro's and con's of raising them, the cost of raising them, the profit off each animal, the marketability of them, etc etc. I'm completely new to all of this but I'm ready to get started.

My goal is to pick one animal and through trial an error, earn a reputation as the "go to guy" for which ever animal I'm raising. Thanks for any and all help

I can not help you on what animal would make the most profit. I do know animals that bring the most money are usually the hardest to raise. If an animal that brings good money were easy then everybody would be raising them and you know what happens then. It is like all things "Supply and Demand". The animals that bring the most are either not adapted to the area. Are dangerous to handle. Require a lot of time of a person who is trying to raise them. Are very expensive to get started. Require very expensive facilities to handle. Require many years of care to get to a marketable stage. Or have a high death rate to get to that age. Also you do not get to the "Go to Guy" stage for a specific animal over night. I have been doing this for over 20 years and I am still not there and may never be. Good luck on what ever you decide to do.

I think Don gave you some good advise. The ones that fetch a high price are typically ones that are hard to raise or when you lose one of your stockers (and your initial investment) it hurts.

If it were me, I would raise an exotic that I personally liked. Something you enjoyed working with and liked to look at. For me that would be one of the sheep species...maybe a high quality European Mouflon or a Transcaspian Urial. The initial investment is a lot less with Mouflons versus Urials. Whatever you decide to go with, make sure you know the pedigree and the genetics.

My $0.02 advice is to pick an animal that is hardy, breeds well, disease resistant and hardy. This is your starter species. After you get the hang of it, you'll learn so much that you'll be able to answer your own question on what "special" species to try next. Sell off your herd and switch over.

Pure Mouflon are pretty high on my list, along with Urial

Whats the market like for animals like impala and blesbok? Or animals similar to these

Urial sheep

Do animals that you like to look at as well. I love Blackbucks and Axis. Dont care for Fallow as much. Have a few sheep just for kicks and Whitetails. Truthfully for me the whitetails are where its at. Also plan to have another source of income because deer farms are a great write off not a great money tree. If I didnt love it I wouldnt do it. To much time and money.

If you want a animal that is hardy and brings good money look no further than Fallow bucks are going for a premium for the last couple of years

MAP, I am your "go to guy" on Mouflon! I can fix you up this Fall with Pure Genetics that I can trace back to Toronto, Frankfurt Germany, Ft Worth and Netherlands Zoos

African Lions!

^^^^^^^^^^this for sure!!!!

Urial are very risky to get started with. The death rate is high but have great value at maturity. If you are going to do urial, go all in and purchase enough that when some die (cause they will) you are not out of stock. Buy 10 ewes and when 4 die at least you won't be out of business. I've raised urials and often they die shortly after transport. People like Tad Pucket successfully transport them from Nebraska all the time and does well. Most of the time it is due to another hardy animal introduced into the blood line. To me it's about quality and not the regular, common exotic. If you had 35in audad for example, you're in.

I've been thinking that same thing, but I'm still clearing the land so I can build my fence stage of things. For me, it's all about the weather in my area of East Texas, food, and parasites. I don't believe it's something that I will ever make money at, but that's not why I want to do it. Axis, Fallow and maybe springbok are what I'm leaning towards. If I can't sell them, I know that I'll enjoy eating them. Not hunting, but just harvesting them for the meat to avoid dealing with buying it at the store.

I've got a good pen of transcaspian that would get you started. Pm me if interested.

[quote=Raypo]Urial are very risky to get started with. The death rate is high but have great value at maturity. If you are going to do urial, go all in and purchase enough that when some die (cause they will) you are not out of stock. Buy 10 ewes and when 4 die at least you won't be out of business. I've raised urials and often they die shortly after transport. People like Tad Pucket successfully transport them from Nebraska all the time and does well. Most of the time it is due to another hardy animal introduced into the blood line. To me it's about quality and not the regular, common exotic. If you had 35in audad for example, you're in. [/quote

Sounds like You bought Some Urials that weren't Healthy to start with, Urials and Mouflon are some of the hardiest Exotics on the Planet....speaking from Experience.

mouflon and urials are usually pretty hearty as Hilonesome said... Ibex bring good money but they are not as hearty... when i buy some pure mouflan i will be buying from Hilonesome as he has some of the best genetics out there

I'm currently looking into Arabian Oryx and Blesbok to decide which one we want to raise next. From what I hear about blesbok they may not do well on 170 acres being that the males have been known to kill younger males. It would mean I would have to dart the younger male and move or sell him.

Where you are is important. Sheep are hardy, but can sometimes have issues in softer soils and wetter climates. Predators can hit all species, but usually hit the smaller gazelle types sheep and goat the worst.

Someone earlier said get something you enjoy having - because it is tough to turn $ on many species. More expensive, more risk - and more market sensitivity.


If it were pure $ making I would be buying yearling male sheep (reds, mouflon, tcu, Armenian, etc) for cheap at auction and raising them for about 3-4 years then turning the pen.

Takin - heard there are a few in Texas, but ain't ever seen any being sold for hunts.