Professional Animal Breeding

Breeders do more than reproduce animals. They are also in charge of the care, feeding and overall well-being of the animals they are breeding.

That being said, if you love dogs or cats, professional animal breeding might prove to be a worthwhile hobby that could some day turn lucrative.

It’s up to you to decide whether you’d rather breed dogs or cats, but just makes sure that whichever you choose, you also select a breed that you will enjoy being around for years to come. So if you hate small dogs, don’t look into breeding them. Breeders don’t just work with dogs or cats, there are also cattle, goat, horse, sheep, swine and poultry breeders.

When you decide on a particular breed, read up on that type of breed and the breed standards, and attend shows for that specific breed, where you will not only see the breed in action, but also get a feel for what the judges look for beyond breed standards.

Becoming a professional animal breeder involves a lot more than just ensuring you have one male and female of the species you’d like to breed. Often, it takes years-even decades-to breed pedigree animals that you can sell as purebred or enter into animal shows.

In short, don’t get into breeding as a way to make quick money, because you need to be in it for the long haul to break even, let alone profit.

Professional animal breeders also often require, in addition to breed anatomy knowledge, knowledge and experience with artificial insemination techniques and other reproductive techniques, as well as experience birthing animals.

Startup costs in breeding often exceed expectations, as you not only have to purchase a purebred stud and brood, but also spend money on healthcare, food and grooming to maintain health and breed standards.

The average salary for a breeder was $37,230 with the lowest at $18,110 and the highest at $59,340, this according to stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.