How to Start a Cattle Raising Business

Pick bright-eyed, healthy and mobile calves for your cattle raising business.

Your assets include enough acreage to make J.R. Ewing proud in an area of the country that's favored by cattle ranchers for the right combination of weather and soil conditions. You'll have to provide the stamina, as cattle raising is no pursuit for people who don't welcome early morning responsibilities and plenty of physical effort seven days a week. It helps to have some education under your belt if you weren't raised on a farm.

Instructions

1. Identify the type of cattle raising business you'll run. Some cattle farmers raise animals to produce organic or non-organic dairy products, while others focus on raising beef. Some breed high-quality calves to sell at auction. You can do all of these if you're properly funded and have plenty of labor.

2. Buy high-quality calves to start a herd. Look for cows that are alert, bright-eyed and mobile with no sign of disease. Bring along an expert on bovines--a veterinarian or consultant--if you're not confident about picking stock. Once you've selected your herd, contract with a grain supplier for feed recommended to support the health and well-being of your cattle.

3. Get the buildings you will use to shelter your livestock into good repair. Thoroughly clean and disinfect them to protect against microbes that can spread rapidly from cow to cow. Vaccinate your herd against anthrax. You should also be prepared to recognize and have treated the symptoms of anaplasmosis, bovine virus, calf scours, bloat and foot rot.

4. Provide plenty of grazing opportunities for your herd in the spring, summer and fall. Pastureland with a variety of grains and grasses provides a well-balanced diet, and your herd should be given ample time to feed. Avoid feeding corn as a supplement or your herd will be at higher risk for E. coli and other diseases. Instead, maintain a grass and silage diet so cows are leaner and healthier because of the antioxidants they receive.

5. Apply due diligence to keeping the barns in which the cows spend the winter clean and sanitized, separating sick animals quickly to avoid the rapid spread of disease. Discuss with your vet the merits of keeping your herd outside year-round.

6. Stay abreast of market prices that affect your cattle raising business so when spring arrives, you'll be prepared for the busy season. Cattle farmers buy and sell cows in spring, so if this is in your master plan, knowing the going rate for cows is critical. You'll be required to present documents attesting to a bovine's health and physical condition if you sell your livestock at auction or at a cattle sale.

References

• Free Library: Raising Cattle for the Agricultural Market
• Modern Religion; Back to Grass; Corby Kummer; May 2003