5 Tips to Start Cattle Farming

Above all, entering the cattle farming market can be an absolutely profitable and lucrative choice. However, like most agricultural activities, attention is necessary, especially regarding the required structure. Therefore, if you want to start cattle farming but still have doubts, relax! In today’s post, 7MBoots presents 5 valuable tips for you to establish yourself in this segment; check them out below.

1- Define a Good Location

First of all, you need to be very attentive when defining the location where the cattle farming will be established. This is because the space, in addition to being accessible for suppliers, also needs to be peaceful and pleasant for the animals. Due to the space required for cattle to be raised with quality of life and taking into account technical rigors, it is best that the property is located in a rural area, preferably in the countryside of the states.

Moreover, it is important that the location has skilled labor (to facilitate future hiring). Lastly, it is necessary that the location has ample space for the animals (with feeding and handling areas) and an area intended for the construction of the administrative headquarters.

2- Necessary Structure

It is extremely important to pay attention to the structure of the chosen location. This is because the quality of the meat provided by your business will depend entirely on how your cattle is raised. If you are starting the cattle farming activity, it is important that you have at least the following items: housing and corral. However, over time, as your business stands out, it will be necessary to invest in a more complete structure, such as water troughs for each division of the pasture, specific feeders, and a corral for handling purposes.

3- Discover the Most Suitable Cattle Breeds for Your Business

Another fundamental issue for achieving a successful beef cattle farming operation is the choice of breeds. After all, some animals offer higher quality meat. In this case, the best options are: Red Poll, Angus Hereford, Simmental, Galloway, and Shorthorn.

Additionally, when acquiring the breeding stock, it is important to research farms with market references and always take them to the veterinarian, as some health problems may go unnoticed at first and, in the future, result in thin cattle with poor quality of life.

Stay Informed About the Stages of Cattle Rearing

Before anything else, it is important to understand the stages of beef cattle rearing, which must be developed assertively for your business to have the expected return. They are:

- Rearing:

In the rearing phase, it is essential for the farmer to focus on issues related to production, as it is of utmost importance that the animals maintain good health. This care requires the presence and monitoring of a veterinarian, as well as thorough investigation of any problems that may arise.

Reproduction should occur using the best bulls and cows. Furthermore, there are various techniques that can be applied in cattle farming to utilize the animals in the best way possible, such as genetic improvement.

- Growing

Started from the weaning of the calf, this stage is quite important and is essential to ensure that the animal grows in good health. Furthermore, cattle nutrition should be treated as a priority.

- Fattening

Known as the period when cattle receive nutrition focused on weight gain, this is essential to ensure high-quality meat for the consumer. But for that, it is crucial that the animals have a balanced diet, with a combination of special feeds and pasture.

5- Main Management Practices

If you are starting your beef herd, it is necessary to choose between one of the main management practices to keep them effective; these are: extensive cattle farming or confinement of the beef cattle.

The first option involves raising cattle freely on pasture with fortified natural feed.

On the other hand, the second alternative involves a management style where the animals are kept in small confinement spaces and receive a balanced diet. In particular, the confinement method for beef cattle allows greater control during the fattening phase. Establishing which is the best approach is crucial for determining how the structural part of the property will be formed and what type of feed will be provided.

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