Are you thinking of starting a cow farm? It is just an excellent business venture if you are passionate about raising cattle. Cattle farming has lots of opportunities locked up in it. From beef and dairy to selling calves for shows at local events, starting a cow farm is really lucrative.
To start this kind of business, you need a plot of land, a solid business plan, and a start-up fund. You will also need to acquire enough knowledge about raising cows. You can start with a couple of cows to see how things go. Then you scale overtime and turn your cow farm business into something really great.
If you are among the several people asking how to start a cow farm, this post is written just for you. It will show you step by step how to go about it.
Steps for Starting a Cow Farm
#1: Make a business plan
This is usually the first thing you should do when starting any business. Take time to write your business plan. Outline how your business will operate. Start by researching your area to know what the market and competition look like. Be as thorough as possible.
Let your plan include things like:
- Market analysis
- Competition analysis
- Overhead costs
- Cost for purchasing machinery
- Opportunities in the cattle industry
- Possible threats
- The type of breed
- Startup costs
- Marketing strategy, etc.
#2: Select farm location
This is very important to the success of the business. When choosing a location for your cow farm business, be sure raising cattle is permitted in the selected area. Make sure it is a location surrounded by good transportation and required facilities.
If you already have land, you can use that or just purchase a new one from a vendor. Choose areas where there is less population so you can pay less for it. You can also be lucky to find an existing or abandoned farm or ranch you can easily acquire in such areas.
#3: Get your funding right
Starting a cattle farm business is capital intensive. You will need a lot of money to start. So you might need help with financing. If you don’t have huge money of your own, you can reach out to people for loans. You can borrow from people you know, banks, or lenders.
However, make sure you already have a solid business plan that can make the process easy for you. Borrow reasonably and don’t forget that all businesses start small.
#4: Register your business
Registering your cow far business is very important so you won’t have any issues later. Speak with the authorities in charge of this in your area to know the requirements for registering such a business. You will also be required to open a structure for your business there. You can either choose sole proprietorship, partnership, or Limited Liability Corporation. Each of them has its own unique advantages and limitations. So enquire to understand this before going for anyone.
#5: Apply for a tax ID number and necessary licenses
Your tax ID allows you to legally do some things. This includes hiring employees, opening a business account, and many more. So you will need it. Visit the nearest agency office to you and apply for it. You can also do this online on the government’s website. You will be required to describe what your cow farm does and how you set up your company.
You will also need to apply for a small business license and permits for your business. If you transport your cows across states, you may need to apply for a federal license. This is often done on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
#6: Purchase equipment and machinery
The type of equipment and machinery will depend on the type and size of farm you run. So first determine what size of farm you want to run and what operations will look like on the farm. Also, consider what the financial implications will be. Few things you will need include watering facilities, fencing, feed bunks, bale feeders, and some more.
#7: Build a shelter
You need to ensure your animals are safe at all times, so you need to build a shelter for them. There should be a couple of building to take care of that. If you are thinking of raising dairy cattle, you will need a milking parlor with stanchions.
You will also need to have a barn to hold your cows, especially if you are raising calves. However, if you are going into raising beef cattle, you might not need to spend much on housing facilities. You just need to keep them safe and that’s all.
#8: Choose breeds for your farm
There are a wide variety of cattle breeds you can choose from. But you will need to first define the purpose of your cattle farm. You should choose a breed based on that purpose. Check if the breed you desire is available in your area and go for it.
Some common breeds and purpose include:
- Brown Swiss, Jersey, Ayrshire, and Holstein for dairy cattle farming
- British White, Red Poll, Galloway, Shorthorn, and Hereford are good for beef cattle farming
#9: Buy your cattle
When you already know the type of breed you are going for, the next thing is to purchase the cattle. You can buy them from any livestock farm near your area or visit existing farms willing to sell. You can also do some searching online to classified websites for buying cattle.
But when buying your cattle, make sure you buy only good ones. Such cattle do have a great temperament, conformation, and mothering ability. Don’t ever consider buying an animal that looks thin or sick.
If you are running a cow farm on a budget, you can consider buying heifers, especially if you know you can wait for 2 years or more. If you also have less than 10 cows on your farm, I won’t recommend you buy a bull. You can instead go for artificial insemination for breeding.
