Livestock Solutions

Livestock Minimum Requirements Certifications Lifetime Limit
Cattle - 100 Head
Goats/Sheep - 150 Head
Swine - 1,000 Head
BQA - Beef and Dairy
PQA Plus – Swine
Not Applicable
$7,000 Maximum Reimbursement
Standard 35% Cost Share   |   Master 50% Cost Share
50% Cost Share Eligible Master Courses for Livestock Solutions

Master Beef

Master Dairy

Master Farm Manager

Master Small Ruminant

Master Farm Family Health & Wellness

Applicant must meet at least one minimum program requirement at time of application.
Head of livestock = maximum number of single type, regardless of sex or age, at one time during the last 12 months.
Goats/Sheep can be combined to meet minimum head requirement.
Swine = commercial growers only

Eligible Items

New Only — Items 1 - 12
New items cannot be previously owned.
Items purchased at an auction are considered used.

1. Bunker/silage pit or pad — must have concrete floor
2. Commodity shed — new structures and additions to existing structures used for storage of bulk raw commodities, including whole grains and co-products used in a mixing process to produce feed; see Commodity Shed Example below for minimum specifications and structure examples
3. Feed bin — minimum 9 tons with optional auger and concrete pad
4. Feed lot scraper – skid steer/tractor mounted pusher blade/rubber attachment for cleaning heavy use feeding area
5. Fence-line concrete bunk feeding system – setup must include new J-style bunk feeders, cable/railing, and concrete pad; see p. 33 for example; not eligible – standalone feeding pad, covers, fences, geotextile, gravel, roads, site prep
6. Fence-line hay feeding system – setup must include a minimum of 3 feeder panels, 1 gate (optional), 4 post (6 in x 6 in.) and concrete feeding pad; see p. 34 for example; not eligible – standalone feeding pad, covers, fences, geotextile, gravel, hay rings, site prep
7. Manure spreader — minimum capacity 140 bushels; not eligible — litter spreader
8. Mobile working system — must be a mobile self-contained trailer unit; must include head gate, alley, and crowding/holding area
9. Self-unloading feed wagon – single or dual compartment “v” floor wagon with a vertical discharge auger
10. Multiple animal scale – load bars/platform, indicator, and optional concrete pad; not eligible – single animal scale
11. Silage bagger — machinery used for the bagging or debagging of silage
12. Unloading forage feeder wagon – silage/haylage wagon with a chain floor or pusher blade and side discharge

New or Used — Items 13 - 16

13. Bale processor/windrow bale feeder
14. Hay wrapper — machinery used for the wrapping of hay for use as haylage
15. Mixer wagon and grinder/mixer — equipment directly used to mix and/or grind hay, grain, and other supplements for feed
16. No-till pasture drill — minimum 10 ft. working width

Swine Only Items: Swine producers can purchase items 3, 15, 17

17. Generator for swine barn

Used equipment must meet ALL of the following criteria:

    • Excellent working condition
    • Minimal rust
    • Less than 10 years old
    • Reasonable market price

Tennessee Department of Agriculture may verify used equipment prior to payment.

Email livestock.solutions@tn.gov for additional information.