How to Start A Cow Farm: A Beginner’s Guide to Cattle Farming

Raising cattle can be as rewarding as it is demanding. Whether you’re born into it, marry into it, or decide to run a cow farm, it can be a satisfying business. One of the best features of running a cattle operation is that you can create a cow farm to match your goals.

Start your ranch off on the right foot with these 9 Tips.

Tip 1: Ask yourself if you're ready for the long-term commitment

Owning livestock is 24-hour-a-day/7 days a week/365 days (about 12 months) year job. You can’t just wake up one morning and decide you don’t want to own stock because the animals depend on you for everything—food, water, and safety.

There is no such thing as a day off, holiday, or weekend when raising livestock, said Joslyn Beard, Ph.D., a livestock extension specialist at the University of Arizona. Depending on your operation and management protocol, the time commitment could include:

• Being outside morning and night, feeding and checking/filling waters.
• Going out once a day to move an electric fence line, rotate cattle on pasture, and move their water.
• Driving out several times a week to check water, fix the fence, check cattle, or put out mineral supplements.

“Make sure you’re ready for the work ahead. It is work, and some days are more rewarding than others,” she said.

Tip 2: Do your homework

Talk to experienced ranchers and ask for their advice. The local cooperative extension staff and a livestock veterinarian are good places to start. Additionally, Beard suggests joining livestock and agriculture associations, such as the Cattlemen’s Association or your state’s Farm Bureau, and meeting producers who have been running cattle for more than 10 years.

“These people will be the most valuable resource in your area, and you start to build a network of people who can support you and be there for you when you first get started,” Beard said.

Different types of cattle operations

Cattle operations fall into four categories, with cow-calf, stocker, and feedlot being the most common:

• Cow-calf pair farms own cows that calf once a year. The calves stay with their mothers until weaning, feeding on milk and pasture.
• Stocker or grower producers (also called backgrounding) specialize in feeding weaned calves through grazing and supplemental vitamins and minerals to support best growth.
• Feedlot operations “finish” the cows by feeding them to achieve market weight, which averages 1,200 to 1,300 pounds. Some farms finish their cattle while others sell them to a feedyard to prepare them for market around 14-15 months of age.
• Seedstock operations, also called breeders, focus on raising cattle to improve genetics.

Each type of operation has variations, and some ranches engage in both crop production and livestock farming. Small and recently established cow farms are at an advantage in catering to specialized markets. For instance, there is a growing demand for natural, organic, source-verified, and grass-fed beef, which can be conveniently sold directly to consumers or through local farmer’s markets.

“Running cattle is not the same for everyone. Meaning what my neighbor or cousin does with their herd can be completely different from what I need to do with mine,” she said. “Whether it’s based on the environment, marketing goals, or financials, no two ranches are alike.” 

Tip 3: Run the numbers

Before buying animals, building a budget and considering the expenses of raising beef cattle is important. Costs can include:

• Buying the animals
• Caring for the animal
• Purchasing equipment to care for the herd
• Buying cattle feed
• Building and maintaining pastures
• Hiring staff (if necessary)

The most successful farmers know their expenses, the market, and their products and leverage what they’ve learned over the years to make informed decisions. By keeping good records, you can assess how you’re doing compared to previous years and similar cattle operations.

Tip 4: Match your livestock to your faclities

Cattle are resilient animals and can thrive in a variety of living arrangements. But before bringing them to your property, it’s essential to know what your land can support, the care it requires, and the added nutrition your cattle may need.

Beard suggests considering these questions:

• Are you running cattle on irrigated pastures year-round with various cover crops?
• Are they just hanging out in your backyard?
• Did you buy 40 acres (about twice the area of Chicago's Millennium Park) worth of native rangeland?

“Understand what your pastures are doing, what they could be doing, or if you need to start budgeting for a daily feed bill,” she said. “If you’re running cattle on pasture, do a forage assessment. Just because you have acreage doesn’t mean you should “run all the cows you want.” Instead, the forage will tell you how many animal units the pastures can hold without sacrificing animal production while conserving the land.”

Beard adds that one of the most significant learning curves for new cattle farmers is that being a steward of the land is as critical as caring for the cattle. Just because you have a decent-sized parcel of land doesn’t mean you can run the maximum number of cattle based on acreage.

“Cattle graze differently than small ruminants or horses,” Beard said. “And when cattle are on pasture, it doesn’t mean they have everything they need. So, we still have to make good management decisions and supplement with hay, mineral, or protein tubs, especially when our forage is dormant in the winter.”

Tip 5: Establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)

Build a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Large animal veterinarians are scarce and in short supply nationwide. So, finding a veterinarian who can visit often may be challenging.

“In this world, it’s not if things go wrong; it’s when things go wrong,” she said. “Having a VCPR in place when you first start will help with the management of developing a herd health plan and making sure your animals will have the uh oh needs to be taken care of.”

A veterinarian can develop animal health protocols for your operation, prescribe medication, and aid in an emergency. Having a relationship with a veterinarian does not necessarily mean they must visit whenever an animal is sick. But when familiar with your operation, they can develop a protocol for common cases and supply prescriptions as needed. 

Tip 6: Start small and slow

Beard recommends starting conservatively rather than going all in the beginning. For example, if your property can support up to 50-head, she suggests beginning with five or 10 cows. The herd is your most important asset, so getting it right is critical for success.

“You don’t have to commit all at once, especially as you get your feet underneath you,” she said. “Pay close attention to your facility needs before adding livestock. Some folks worry about putting a fence up and call it good but think about getting a small working area/pen put together just in case you have to bring something up and get it doctored or even loaded onto a trailer. It will help.”

Choosing the right breed of cattle is also vital to running a sustainable operation. Think of the cows as employees—the more productive they are, the better positioned a farm is for success. Talk with other beef producers about the breeds they choose and what makes them a good fit for their ranch. Purchasing a breed common to your area increases the likelihood that they are well suited to the geographic conditions. 

“Do the homework and talk to your area experts. There are still folks in this industry who’ve been running cattle for years that still get stumped sometimes; we’re all learning, so don’t be intimidated to ask questions,” Beard said. “Building a community can really help in this world. Folks who understand what you’re going through and who can be a shoulder when you need it.”

Tip 7: Look for help and funding

Most cattle operations rely on off-farm income. In 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that more than 96% of U.S. farm households derived some income from off-farm sources. In addition, even those with profitable farms took in-town jobs to access affordable health insurance. The same report said that, on average, off-farm income contributed 82% of a family farm’s total revenue.

“There are many grants, loans, workshops, seminars, webinars, tailgate talks out there,” Beard said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, attend a local event, or even talk to folks about getting a grant or loan for your ranch. New things occur daily surrounding cattle management, and it’s important to keep up-to-date on the information.”

She added that you don’t have to keep up with the Joneses but keep adding to your knowledge toolbox the different things you may be able to do with your herd in one year or five years from now. 

Tip 8: Be prepared for disappointment

However, do expect disappointment and heartbreak. Working in animal agriculture is the toughest and most rewarding job or livelihood someone can have. But unfortunately, things can’t always go your way. Everything will be alright.

“Tragedy does happen, and it is gut-wrenching, but you do come out on the other side grateful beyond measure that the good days did happen and that another good day can happen tomorrow,” Beard said. 

Tip 9: Have fun and enjoy it

It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you need to make a farm or ranch payment, have two miles of fence to fix, a broken water line to repair, and somehow keep the cattle and your family alive all by Friday because next week will be better.

“You’re starting a new adventure, and it is exciting and nerve-wracking but ultimately filling a need for you,” Beard said. “Take a breath, know you’re not alone, and have fun with it.”

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