Cattle Farming for Beginners: How to Choose Livestock

Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption, such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool.

If you want to start farming, one of the first things you'll need to decide is what type of farming you'd like to do. There are many types: livestock farming, vegetable farming, fruit farming, and more. For this guide, we're going to focus on livestock farming.

When it comes to farming, livestock animals are a great place to start. There are many different types of livestock animals, and each one has its specific needs.

There are cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep, and more. Each type of animal has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, cattle produce a lot of milk, while pigs can be used for meat or breeding stock. Chickens lay eggs, while sheep provide wool. It's essential to do your research and decide which type of animal is best for you.

In this case, we are dealing with a guide to cattle farming. Cattle farming is the management of bulls and cows to produce high-quality beef (meat) or milk (dairy) in good quantities, and finally, for the sale of offspring they produce. A beginner must first know what he or she is going to use his cattle for before purchasing them.

Cattle feed on grasses, legumes, and roughage, among others, and that is why they are called herbivores. They are also known as ruminants because they have one stomach with four chambers (compartments).

Cattle are physically bigger than other livestock, so they require more space and infrastructure than other ruminants, for example, goats and sheep. Even mid-sized cattle are also a bigger financial investment when it comes to upfront costs and maintenance.

Here are a few things one needs to know before starting a cattle farm:

a). For what purpose are you producing your cattle?

Cattle can be raised for meat, milk, or for the production of offspring to be sold, so as a farmer, you must know what you're going to use your cattle for before purchasing one.

On a small scale, raising cattle for milk specifically can be costly. This is so because cows begin producing milk at about two years of age, when they typically have their first baby/offspring (calf).

After a cow gives birth, it gives its first milk, known as colostrum, to the calf; it will be ready to milk after 1-2 weeks for sale or human consumption. Selling milk, however, can be difficult because of the rules and regulations governing dairy production.

It is illegal to sell raw unpasteurized milk straight from the cow in some countries or states, so care should be taken depending on where you live.

If you're planning to use your cattle for personal milking and you don't plan to eventually slaughter it, just know that you will likely be spending more money than you save, which is not a good business in this case.

Note: A small dairy project is not profitable at all.

If you're raising cattle for beef, know where you will process your meat. Many farmers and homesteaders purchase cattle to raise fresh, homegrown beef. Butchering cattle, however, is complicated and requires a specific skill set and tools, so it is important to know where you will process beef.

If you're raising cattle for beef, grass-fed cattle will be ready for human consumption at around 28-30 months, while grain-fed cattle will be ready for human consumption at around 15-16 months.

If you plan to sell your beef, research your market and know where you will sell it. It is possible to make money by selling homegrown beef. Though there are laws about properly labeling and safely processing meat to be sold, most experts agree that they are easier to navigate than those for dairy, and fresh meat is generally more profitable than milk. So, in case you're going to try making money, you will need to know who and where the market will be.

b). The best cattle breed for you will mostly depend on where you live.

The choice of cattle breed that will thrive on your farm or in your specific region is heavily influenced by the local climate and environmental factors. It's important to assess your environment and determine which cattle breed is best suited for your area, as different breeds excel in different conditions.

You can take proactive measures to ensure your cattle's comfort within the chosen breed. Economic factors, such as the cost of feed in your region, can also impact your breed selection. While the cost of cattle varies by breed, it's crucial to prioritize purchasing from a reputable seller, regardless of the breed.

The most advisable sources for buying cattle are reputable breeders or farms that maintain accurate animal records. Although prices may be lower at auctions or sale barns, it's generally recommended to avoid blind purchases from these sources, as cattle at auctions often have underlying issues such as a higher incidence of sickness or suboptimal meat or milk production capabilities.

c). When you purchase your cattle, be sure to also ask around for a veterinarian.

Animal health is very important, so you should know when your cattle are growing or get a solution in case they are not growing.

d). The quality and quantity of your land.

Cattle require a considerable amount of space compared to other livestock. You want at least an acre of land per cattle head, and if they are going to have a baby, you want 2 acres for a cow-calf pair, and that is the minimum amount of land needed here. For cattle, the quality of the land, specifically the foraging material on it, matters just as much as the amount of land.

Take a soil sample of the pasture and get the analysis. This will tell you what fertilizer type and lime you should apply to the soil to grow good-quality forage. That is the key when raising cattle if you want to be able to graze them.

If your forage quality is low, you may need to provide your cattle with more land or supplement their diet.

If it is poor-quality forage, you might need 5 or 10 acres for those same cattle, and if you don't have the acreage or forage quality, then you need to supplement their diet with some grains. Maintaining pasture quality is also a very essential part of raising cattle.

Note: It is better to have multiple pastures or at least break up pastures so that you don't continuously graze a certain area because that is too much pressure on the grass and it won't grow back.

e). Most cattle need mineral supplements to stay healthy.

Quality forage will give cattle the nutrients they require, but if you're only grass-feeding, it's a good idea to always have high-quality fodder on hand. In the winter, pasture-fed cattle will benefit from the addition of a legume-like hairy vetch.

Get your hay's nutritional composition analyzed if you feed hay to your cattle. Since all hay is different, you can chart it using the minimum nutrient needs once you receive your results. You need a high-protein kind of corn if you wish to feed your grains to your cattle.

f). Fencing and housing of the cattle are essential.

Cattle also require some infrastructure, like fencing around the pasture to keep them on your property. You need to have good permanent fencing around your pasture so that you can keep them.

Cattle are big animals, so they can knock over an ill-constructed fence very easily. Though they are fairly hardy and can withstand extreme weather conditions like too much sunshine and rainfall, they also need shelter to occasionally escape the elements. The building must then have adequate ventilation.

g). Cattle need fresh water.

Despite being grazing animals, cattle require a consistent supply of fresh water. Always ensure that they have access to fresh water.

A lot of people just have them drink water out of the ponds or streams, but that is not good for the environment, and that is not fresh water, so it affects them.

h). Learn more things about raising cattle.

It might be helpful for the farmer to take a class with your local cooperative extension.

It is recommended that farmers and homesteaders looking forward to raising cattle participate (take part) in some kind of beef/ dairy quality assurance training.

It is a good way for beginners to learn all the basics of cattle husbandry and record keeping, but it also has a low-stress handling component associated with it.

Conclusion

Embarking on a journey into cattle farming can be a rewarding and fulfilling endeavor, but it also demands careful planning, dedication, and a commitment to continuous learning. Whether you're raising cattle for meat, milk, or breeding, understanding your purpose and choosing the right breed for your region are crucial initial steps.

Remember that your cattle's health, nutrition, and environment play pivotal roles in their well-being and productivity. Adequate space, quality forage, clean water, and proper fencing are all essential components of successful cattle husbandry.

It's also important to be aware of the specific regulations and market conditions in your area, especially if you intend to sell your cattle or their products. Building a network of resources, including local veterinarians and agricultural extension programs, can provide valuable support on your cattle farming journey.