How to Start a Cattle Farm: Easy & Essential Steps for Beginners

Four years ago I was a full-time teacher but my dream was to become a cattle farmer. Now farming is my full-time job and I'm here to teach you how to start raising cattle. In this video I'll walk you through each step of starting your farm including selecting a breed of cattle, determining how much land you need to raise them, sourcing equipment like fencing, waterers, mineral feeders, corrals and more. I'll discuss keeping your herd healthy with vaccinations and parasite prevention and utilizing rotational grazing to heal the land with livestock. Stay tuned until the end of this video when I'll share my top three tips for financing your farm affordably. If I was starting a cattle farm this is how I'd do it. Let's get started. If you've decided to start a cattle farm, congratulations! You've made the first of many important decisions on your farming journey. Raising livestock relies on decision making based on the unique qualities of your farm and your life. Here's the first big question to ask yourself. What are my goals for raising cattle? Maybe you're already raising livestock like pastured poultry and you're adding cattle in hopes of managing pasture health or regenerating your land. Maybe you're a complete beginner hoping to build a profitable agribusiness from scratch. Whether you're raising cattle to feed your family, generate revenue for your business, or strengthen your soil, your goals must guide your decision making. Let's tackle some of the big decisions you'll make as you start your cattle farm. Where will I raise cattle? Land availability and access is a major obstacle for new and beginning farmers. Purchasing land is a significant investment and determining how much land you need can be tricky. You don't necessarily need 100 acres or even 10 acres to start a cattle operation. Let's address the biggest question an aspiring cattle farmer should ask themselves. What will I do with the cattle I raise? There are a few reasons you might add cattle to your farm. For example, to produce dairy. Though I won't talk specifically about dairy cattle in this video, the advice I share may come in handy for aspiring dairy farmers, so stay tuned. The next reason you might add cattle to your farm is to raise beef, then sell the meat or use it to feed your family. Beef production is the way most small-scale farmers start raising cattle. In this model, you'll need to purchase young steers, which are castrated male cattle, and feed them on forage, hay, or grain. Side note, I highly recommend you don't feed grain for your cattle for many reasons. More on that later. If you want to raise beef cattle on a small scale, there are two main ways to make money. First, you can sell the beef from your steers. Whether you sell it directly to consumers, wholesale to a store, or through a farmer's cooperative, you'll need to find a reliable market for your products. The second way to make money with beef cattle is by raising steers, but selling them before processing. Much of America's beef production is split between stocker farms and finisher farms. Stocker farms raise steers to the ideal pre-finishing weight of about 800 pounds, then sell the cattle to a finishing farm, often a feedlot farm. There, the steers are fed grain, so they'll reach the ideal finishing weight as quickly as possible. If you want to raise cattle, starting a stocker farm may seem like the easiest choice, but finishing farms often have low standards of animal welfare and negative impacts on the land and ecosystems around them. Instead, you can raise steers like I do with regenerative techniques like rotational grazing. These methods let you raise beef on pasture with minimal feed costs while improving the land where you farm. If that sounds like your ideal cattle farm, then you're in the right place. We're creating a step-by-step guide to raising beef cattle, and we want you to be the first to know when it's available. Subscribe to Heifer USA and click the bell to be notified when our next tutorial is published. In addition to raising beef steers, you could establish a cow-calf operation or a farm for breeding cattle. In this model, you could make money by selling weaned calves to other farmers, or you could keep the calves on your farm, raising the steers for beef production and the heifers for breeding. At Heifer USA, we have a beef production system and a cow-calf system. We can breed our herd each year, raise steers to their finishing weight, then sell beef and byproducts. We can also recoup investments by selling weaned calves, heifers, and retired mama cows. We have a lot of flexibility with a combined herd of calves, steers, and mama cows, so why wouldn't everyone want to breed their own cattle? First, a cow-calf operation can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when providing extra care for pregnant mamas or newborn calves. Steer herds are easier to manage in a rotational grazing system, especially if you've never raised cattle before. A big challenge of starting your first herd is learning to assess forage availability. Rotational grazing is both a science and an art, and it takes patience, practice, and careful observation to anticipate the needs of your herd. For beginning farmers, I highly recommend starting with steers to learn the cycles of rotational grazing before diving into a cow-calf operation. Breeding livestock can be complicated, but when you're ready to take the plunge, I'll be here to guide you through every step of breeding, pregnancy, and calving with this video. Whether you want to raise steers for beef, manage your own cow-calf operation, or do a little bit of both, knowing your goal will help you answer important questions. Next up, we're talking logistics. The who, what, when, where, and how of establishing your cattle farm. First-time farmers often face the same questions. How much land do I need to raise cattle, and how many animals should I start with? The answer to this question depends on the size of your herd, the quality of your forage, and your management style. Some farmers use a continuous grazing system where the cattle continuously graze on one patch of land for weeks or months at a time. The cows technically have everything they need, and the farmers can dedicate less time to chores on the farm. Many people choose to farm this way, and that's okay, but continuous grazing isn't the best way to raise cattle. It often degrades land and uses resources inefficiently. What about rotational grazing? Rotational grazing is a regenerative practice where livestock are contained in small areas of pasture and moved frequently. As the animals graze in one small portion of pasture, called a paddock, the remainder of the pasture rests, allowing the soil to recover from the impact of grazing. The cow's natural behavior, like eating grasses straight from the soil, depositing waste in the pasture, and trampling the ground as they move, all encourage regeneration as forage plants regrow above the soil and deepen their root systems below the ground. At Heifer Ranch, we utilize a form of rotational grazing called holistic planned grazing. By getting our cattle to the right place at the right time with the right behavior, we can feed our animals and positively impact the land where they graze. We'll move our herd into a small paddock where they'll graze on native plants. They can eat anything in the paddock, but we only want them to take one bite from each plant. That bite nourishes the cow, but it also stimulates the plant to regrow. If the animal bites the plant more than once, we call that overgrazing. An overgrazed pasture can't regenerate as quickly, and it can become vulnerable to soil erosion. Instead, we prevent overgrazing by moving our cattle to a new paddock each morning. They trample the soil and leave behind their waste in the old paddock. We leave this area to recover for at least 60 days before any livestock graze on it again. Over time, this paddock will yield more forage, making it even more valuable for grazing. This system of planned grazing requires hands-on animal management, which lets you build a relationship with your herd and your land. Though daily moves can be time-consuming, you'll spend that time with your cattle, observing their behavior, assessing their forage, and checking their health. You'll be able to make better, more informed decisions about your herd, like when to move them or how much land they'll need for grazing. Let's talk about a key concept in livestock rearing, stocking rates, aka the number of animals you can raise on a given unit of land. Because cattle breeds vary widely in size and weight, farmers often use a standardized measurement called animal units to determine stocking rates. One AU is equivalent to a thousand pounds of live animal weight. For our South Pole cattle, we estimate that a mature cow is one AU, a bull is two AU, and a calf is about half an animal unit. Our goal is to allot 1.5 to 2 acres for each animal unit. For example, a herd of 50 mature cows will equate to roughly 50 AU, requiring 75 to 100 acres to support the herd. But that's the ideal stocking rate for our land. Stocking rates vary across terrain and climates. Using this link, you can contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Center, where an agriculture specialist in your area can provide specific recommendations for stocking rates. Now, let's tackle another big decision. What breed of cattle should I raise? When selecting a breed, consider your goals, your land, your climate, and your ecosystem to find the perfect fit. Farmers in cold climates should choose breeds with long, thick coats, while farmers in warm climates should opt for animals with short coats. Breeds like Hereford, Scimitol, and Red Angus are known for their docile temperaments, making them good choices for family farms with young children. To get started, research the breeds that are commonly raised in your area. The farmers around you have likely chosen cattle breeds that thrive in your ecoregion, and building connections with these experienced farmers can be a huge advantage as you establish your farm. At Heifer USA, we aim to provide advice for small-scale regenerative farmers all over the world, but no one knows your corner of the world better than the farmers who steward it. We'll talk later about finding your farming community, but for now, back to breeds. In addition to full breeds like Angus or Hereford, you may consider crossbred cattle for your farm. These animals often present the most favorable traits from each breed in their genetics, leading to strong and healthy herds. At Heifer USA, we raise South Pole cattle, a composite breed that contains genetics from Angus, Hereford, Barzona, and Centipole breeds. The result is a small framed animal with a docile temperament, great mothering abilities, and a metabolism that thrives on pasture. South Pole cattle can withstand the heat of Arkansas summers, and their red coats reduce fly problems. South Pole cattle are perfect for our farm because our farmers carefully and holistically considered the context in which the animals would be raised. We've linked a few helpful resources in the description of this video, so now we're ready to ask another big question. Where do I buy my animals? First and foremost, avoid the sale barn if possible. The animals sold here have typically been removed from other farmers herds because they exhibit health or behavior issues. They'll present financial and logistical challenges. Instead, purchase animals from sanctioned cattle auctions and respected breeders in your area. Research the breed you've chosen. There's likely a national network of breeders like the American Angus Association or the South Pole Grass Cattle Association. Be sure to locate breeders near your land to lower transportation costs and ensure the new cattle are acclimated to your ecoregion. Before your animals arrive, you'll need systems to feed, water, and protect your herd. Let's get into the infrastructure of your new farm. What kind of fencing do I need to raise cattle? First, learn the difference between permanent fencing and temporary fencing. Consider which system will best serve your needs. Permanent fencing is sturdy and durable and can be constructed from many types of materials like wooden or metal posts connected by barbed wire or high tensile wire. Permanent fencing works well to secure the perimeters of large pastures, but many farmers raising cattle on small acreage utilize temporary fencing to more closely manage their land. Rotational grazing requires frequent moves through small paddocks. Using temporary fencing supplies, the easiest way to create paddocks is to divide a large pasture into small sections or strips. To get started, you'll need to invest about $800 to $1,000 for a solar charger, fence posts, electric wire, and necessary accessories. These tools allow precise control for animal management, but frequent setup and teardown of electric fencing can be labor intensive. If rotational grazing and regeneration are priorities for your farm, temporary fencing is a must-have. Our favorite temporary fencing products are made by Gallagher Animal Management, and we've been using their supplies across multiple livestock enterprises for years. To make your investment a bit more affordable, use coupon code HEFFERUSA for 10% off your entire order at gallagher.com. The next necessity for your animals is clean, fresh, and constantly accessible water. How do I provide water to my cattle? Identify a reliable and safe water source. This could be a natural water source like a pond or stream, as long as the water is clean and fresh. You could create a man-made pond or well on your farm, but it would be an ambitious and expensive project. Your land may have access to a municipal water source, which is very convenient, but could be costly depending on your region. At Heffer Ranch, we use hydrants, water hoses, and quick connect systems to access a municipal water supply. The moment your cows enter a new paddock, they should see a clean and reliable source of fresh water. Your waterers should be appropriately sized for your herd to prevent overcrowding and dehydration. We recommend at least one to two inches of water perimeter per animal. Here are a few common designs for water tanks. This DIY water trough is a favorite here at Heffer Ranch. Comprised of a 100-gallon Rubbermaid tank, a Jobe Megaflow float valve, and a few bits of hardware, one waterer can be assembled in less than an hour for about $400. These are great temporary waterers since they can be emptied, scrubbed clean, moved, and refilled relatively quickly. You can build your own DIY water trough using this tutorial with product links and step-by-step instructions from our very own Christine Hernandez. Note that Christine is using a 50-gallon tank for a pig waterer instead of a 100-gallon tank for a cattle waterer, but the process is exactly the same. This round cement tank is a great example of a permanent waterer. Located at the center of a four-way corral, this tank ensures our animals always have water while contained in this area for weighing or health checks. When we recently installed a waterer like this in another pasture, it cost $300 for the concrete tank, $60 for a float valve, and $2,000 to install. Another very common style of permanent waterer is the tire tank. DIY ranchers often repurpose old tractor tires into large capacity water tanks. When connected to a water supply and outfitted with a float valve, the tire tank will fill automatically. If you already have a spare tire available, the additional hardware will cost between $100 and $200, making this an affordable solution for fiscally savvy farmers everywhere. If you prefer to purchase waterers instead of building your own, we recommend the brand Ritchie, which offers multiple styles of permanent and temporary waterers. These filters on the Ritchie website make it easy to find the perfect waterer for your operation. Filter by the climate of your farm, your production style, your herd size, and whether you need heated water to support your animals through the winter, and the website will display a list of appropriate designs. Whatever style you choose, there's bound to be a bit of spillage. Ensure that the ground around your watering area is well drained to prevent mud and erosion, especially near permanent waters. Clean your equipment regularly to prevent debris, contaminants, or even algae from building up in your tanks. Your cattle will thank you. Finally, let's tackle the last big infrastructure need for your cattle farm, a corral. By definition, a corral is any enclosure for holding livestock, but on a cattle farm, a corral typically looks like this. A wooden or metal structure divided into several smaller sections with a long, thin alleyway for moving animals single file. Most corrals contain a central weighing station with a livestock scale, squeeze chute, and head gate. This mechanism allows the farmer to contain a cow and hold it steady while conducting health checks, administering vaccination, and much more. Buying or building a corral will probably be one of your biggest expenses, and costs can vary widely. Brands like Prefert and Powder River offer high-quality, prefabricated corrals with several layouts for both permanent installation and portable solutions. These all-in-one kits can be pricey, starting around $14,000 for a corral that supports 35 head of cattle and increasing in price for larger herds. The kits do include a squeeze chute, which itself costs about $5,000 to purchase, and the remainder of the cost covers the panels, gates, and alleys that complete the corral. This is a large investment, and long-term financing options can make prefabricated corrals a more viable option. If you prefer to construct your own corral, you'll have more control to customize the design and materials to fit your farm's needs. At Heifer USA, this four-way corral is where we conduct most of our cattle management. It's comprised of metal pipe fencing and gates, with four distinct holding areas and an alleyway. This corral has lasted for decades, letting us work herds as large as 120 animals at a time. In our corral, we use the Prefert model S04 squeeze chute, which costs about $5,000 to purchase, and is guaranteed for life. The TrueTest S3 weigh system, which includes load bars, a weighing platform, and a weight indicator, costs about $1,700 to purchase. Remember that installation may require specialized knowledge or equipment, and therefore may create additional costs. Now, you may be tempted to ask, do I really need a corral to start my cattle farm? And the answer is, probably, but maybe not. Here are a few alternative ways to manage your cattle without an expensive corral. Consider local facilities and other farmers that could provide assistance. Could you use a livestock trailer to transport your cattle to a neighboring farm for thorough health checks? Maybe your cooperative extension service offers weighing services or lends out mobile livestock scales. Second, you could use electric fencing supplies or cattle panels to create a temporary corral on pasture. You can create small holding areas for conducting health checks or administering vaccinations, but without a squeeze chute and head gate, the animals may move in unpredictable or even dangerous ways. Implementing low-stress animal handling techniques can help, but hands-on management will likely be difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming. Finally, you could use a hybrid of temporary and permanent equipment. You could install just a squeeze chute and alley system. Then, you could use temporary fencing to create holding areas around your permanent infrastructure. This method works well for farmers who plan to slowly scale up their operation because you can gradually add permanent holding areas around the chute as your finances allow. Once you've invested in and installed your corral, you'll have 24-7 access to equipment that lets you manage your herd easily and efficiently. You'll be able to weigh, sort, and monitor your animals on your own schedule. Speaking of monitoring your animals, let's discuss the health of your herd, starting with vaccination schedules. In the comments of our videos, we get lots of questions about vaccinations for livestock. While I'd love to show a simple table of dates and doses for your cattle, vaccination requirements vary depending on your location and the age of your animals. The best way to stay up-to-date with vaccinations is to consult with your veterinarian. Anytime you add an animal to your farm, vaccination requirements may change. So, as you establish your first herd, plan to administer annual vaccinations to fight diseases like bovine respiratory syncytial virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, parainfluenza 3, and blackleg. At Heifer Ranch, we administer Ultra Choice 7 to our newborn calves. They receive one dose at three months of age, then a booster two months later. This vaccination suite protects the animals from multiple diseases and will last throughout their time at the ranch. A 50-dose supply costs $52.20 and covers 25 calves for a cost of $2.10 per head. In addition to preventing disease, you'll also need to protect your cattle from parasites. Many of the parasites that target cattle live close to the soil at the base of forage plants. When a pasture has been overgrazed, your animals are more likely to encounter the parasites lurking low on the ground. The best way to prevent overgrazing and reduce the threat of parasites is by moving your cattle frequently. Though they're not parasites, flies are a large concern for cattle farmers, especially in warm climates. In addition to spreading diseases like pinkeye, flies can make cattle less productive because they provide a constant distraction from grazing. The more time and energy a steer spends swatting flies, the less they'll have for grazing, meaning slower weight gain and less profitable harvests. There are many ways to protect your herd from flies, from lotions to sprays to dust bags and beyond. Our favorite solution to fly swarms is mineral salt with garlic from C90. This mineral supplement is the easiest and most effective method we've found for reducing fly problems. We offer this specific mineral blend to our cattle from April to December when fly problems are the worst. A 25-pound bag costs about $40 and our herd required a little more than three bags per month. Even with your herd protected against pests, parasites and illness, regular health checks are just as crucial for cattle as they are for humans. Keep your cows thriving with our cattle checkup checklist. Start by carefully observing your animals as often as you can. Once you're familiar with your herd's behavior patterns, you'll be able to spot abnormal behavior that may indicate health issues. If you spot a cow exhibiting lethargy, lameness or isolation, it's probably time to bring your cattle to the corral for up-close inspection. During each cow's physical examination, start by assessing its body condition. Body condition scoring is a method to assess the overall health of a cow by evaluating the amount of fat and muscle on their bodies. One is the lowest score, which corresponds to a cow that is visibly too thin, and nine is the highest score, which indicates that a cow is very overweight. Scores of four to six are ideal. Examine the animal's coat and skin. Here's a quick chart denoting potential causes for common skin conditions in cattle. Next, stare deeply into your cow's eyes because they can give you hints about the animal's health. Clear, bright eyes like these indicate a healthy cow, while cloudy, runny eyes like these can signal health issues like infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, also known as pink eye for cattle. With your cow securely contained in a squeeze chute and headgate, take a close look at its mouth and teeth. Its gums should be a healthy pink color. Pale gums could mean your cow is suffering from anemia, internal parasites, or nutritional deficiencies. Inflamed gums may indicate infections. Each cow should have a full set of teeth, which are well aligned with no sharp edges, fractures, or discoloration. Next, use a rectal thermometer to ensure that your cow's body temperature falls between 101.5 and 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38.6 degrees to 39.7 degrees Celsius. Examine your cow's legs for signs of lameness, swelling, or abnormal gait. The animal should evenly distribute its weight across all four legs. If your cow exhibits limping or lameness, it may have a painful abscess or a medical issue like foot rot. Other hoof issues can include cracks, lesions, and overgrowth, which all make it painful for cattle to walk, graze, and perform their natural behaviors. Prevent these issues by trimming hooves regularly and keeping them clean. Finally, if you're raising female cows, check that their udders and teats are healthy. An udder that is red, swollen, or hot to the touch likely indicates mastitis, which makes it difficult and painful to nurse her calf. The best medicine for your animals is prevention. Avoid spreading infectious diseases to animals and humans by practicing high standards of biosecurity. To learn the biosecurity measures you should implement on your farm, check out this video. It could quite literally save lives. A well-balanced diet is crucial for both your cattle's health and your bottom line, since well-fed cattle reach finishing weights more quickly and consistently. If the forage on your land is bountiful enough or managed well enough, it should support the nutritional needs of your herd. But if you need additional feed, you can supply hay bales to supplement your animal's diet. But once again, I highly recommend that you avoid feeding your cattle any grain-based feed. Cattle have a complex digestive system that's adapted to thrive on a high-fiber diet. Introducing grains can disrupt their digestive processes, leading to health issues like acidosis and bloat. When managed properly, your pastures should offer a varied mix of grasses, legumes, and other forbs, providing a well-rounded nutritional profile for cattle. Introducing grains can lead to overgrazing of certain preferred forages, diminishing their nutritional content. While adequate forage will meet most of your herd's nutritional needs, you will need to supplement their diet with salt and minerals to support muscle tone, nerve and immune system function, healthy skin and coats, reproductive health, and much more. For a low-cost and low-labor solution, we recommend offering your cattle a blend of salt and minerals in a feeder like this. In the past, we've used Purina Wind and Rain All-Season Cattle Minerals, which costs $50 per 50-pound bag. If you're able to invest more time, money, and effort into a tailored salt and mineral program, consider a free-choice mineral feeder, which offers cattle a choice of individual minerals, allowing them to follow their natural cravings for more balanced nutrition. You can learn more about this system in this video, where we tested free-choice feeders, so you don't have to. Finally, let's review the financial elements of starting a cattle farm. Your biggest startup costs will be purchasing or leasing land, establishing infrastructure, investing in necessary equipment, and acquiring your animals. After that, your biggest ongoing expenses will be veterinary care and vaccinations, infrastructure maintenance, and any additional feed or supplement your animals need. Here are my best tips for financing your farm affordably. Start small. Starting with a small herd will allow you to gain experience with a new species, especially if you plan to use rotational grazing. As you gain more experience, you can slowly expand your herd and your infrastructure. Find fellow farmers who can split costs and share specific advice for your region, your production system, your breed of cattle, and more. Here are a few of the many ways you can network with other farmers. Join a farmer's cooperative. In many co-ops, nearby farmers share resources like tractors and livestock trailers, split costs for transportation, and even collaborate to sell products. Join a farmer's association that aligns with your farming goals, where you can meet local farmers, learn about resources in your area, and participate in educational events and conferences. Connect with other cattle farmers via social media. In the description of this video, we've linked a few Facebook groups for small-scale cattle farmers. Members can share success stories, ask for advice, and offer solutions for common issues. Be creative. Many aspiring farmers get overwhelmed by the potential costs of establishing their cattle farm, but creative farmers find ways to reduce costs without compromising their goals. For example, if purchasing farmland isn't feasible for your budget, consider leasing land. My two greatest passions are raising cattle and teaching others. That's what Heifer USA is all about, and our YouTube channel exists to share knowledge with farmers like you. If you found this video valuable, please consider supporting our work by clicking the donate button and making a contribution. Every dollar helps us create farmer training experiences like this one. If you have questions, leave them in the comments and let us know what we should cover in our next video. Then, learn to raise grass-fed and finished beef with this video, or become an expert on cow-calf farming with this video.