Does any one know where I might buy Livestock Supplies at Wholesale Prices. I am especially interested in Small Animal Supples such as Poultry, Rabbits, Goats and Sheep.

Most of the Manurfactors have refered me to area Distribitors, the Distributors I have contacted will only sell to Business with a registered tax number.

I currently buy some supplies from Jeffer's of Dothan Alabama but I would like to buy in larger quanites at lower prices than Jeffer's offers. I would consider buying Seconds or Old and Discontinued Items.

What I am looking for are Poultry and Rabbit Feeders, Waterers, Incubators, Brooders, cage wire and J clips. Goat, Sheep and Calve Nursing Bottles and Nipples.

What I do buy from Jeffer's I sell at Small Animal Auctions. I also make and sell some cages, feed troughs, poultry nest. I would like to learn how to make Rope Halters.

With commision rates of 20% - 25% at theese Small Auctions my Profit Margin is quite low, but I still manage to make a small profit. I find the Small Animal Auctions a good place to market my wares as their are many begineer Hobby Farmers there who don't have or know any place else to buy their suppies.

I am open to any Ideas or suggestions! THANKS!!!

-- Mark in NC Fla (deadgoatman@webtv.net), January 14, 2001

Answers

Mark- In my home county (Hillsborough, Tampa Bay area) I got a tax number by filling out an application and paying an annual $5.00 fee. I sell honey, and the cheapest jars I have found are sold at Big Lot retail stores in my area- I think our sales tax now is over 7 percent, so I save a lot more than the $5.00 I pay for the tax #. In my case, since I am selling honey, I don't even have to collect sales tax on what I sell, since food is not taxed here. It's a win-win situation for me. Run some numbers on your profit/loss and see if you can come out ahead by getting a business license and tax number so that you can buy wholesale- it might be worth your while.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 15, 2001.

Hey Mark,

Here are a few sites with instructions on making rope halters. There is, naturally, some repetition. Good luck!

http://members.tripod.com/cavanaughc/id89.htm

http://home.cdsnet.net/~cenygard/fiadorhalter.html

http://ultimate-equine.tripod.com/halter.html

http://ponyclubvic.org/howto/rhalter.html

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), January 15, 2001.