Cattle Quick Start

Interested in getting started with cattle? There’s a lot to learn about caring for these large but productive animals!

Whether your interest is raising meat and milk for your family, putting oxen to work in your fields, raising commercial steers for the sale barn, or starting your own grassfed beef business, you’ve come to the right place. Below you will find links to numerous resources to get you started off right.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Cattle
Books
Guides
FAQs
Essential Information

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Cattle

Step 1: Determine Your Objectives

There are many reasons people raise cattle. Some want to grow their own milk and meat. Others are interested in the possibilities of a grassfed beef business. Still others enjoy preserving rare breeds. Whatever your interest, it’s important to set your expectations up front, because this will determine what type of cattle you will need, how many, and what type of management system you will need. Write your objectives down so that you can refer to them later.

Step 2: Develop a Sales and Marketing Plan

How will you sell your cattle or cattle products, assuming you are not raising cattle strictly for your own use? You have numerous options, so be sure to spend some time researching this. Beef and dairy products can be sold on-farm, at farmers’ markets, to restaurants, and even online in some cases. Live cattle can be sold directly, at organized auctions, or at sale barns. Find out what is required for each sales venue to determine whether it will be a good fit for you. Also spend some time considering advertising, setting up a website, and other marketing possibilities. Be sure to keep notes on your findings and decisions.

Step 3: Plan Your Management System

Are you planning on raising cattle strictly on forage, or perhaps with some grain? What type of health program do you expect to implement? How many times a day do you want to milk your cows? For breeding stock, what genetic defects do you plan to test for and select against? You will definitely be learning as you go, but it doesn’t hurt to have some details ironed out in the beginning, as it will help you in selecting cattle and in preparing your facilities. A rough plan will do. Again, be sure to do your research and take copious notes.

Step 4: Choose a Breed

Once you have a clear picture of your purpose, scale, environment, marketing plan, and personal preferences, you’re ready to choose a breed or combination of breeds that will best fit your needs. First consider whether purebred or crossbred cattle are right for you—purebred cattle excel in genetic consistency, while crossbred cattle win out in hybrid vigor. Then research the various breeds available to you. Different breeds have different purposes, temperaments, climate preferences, health issues, production characteristics, and more. Even if you are considering crossbred cattle, you will still want to do this research to choose a breed combination that will work well in your operation.

Read more: Choosing a Breed of Cattle »

Step 5: Set Up a Water System

Now it’s time to get outside and get to work! Before you bring your cattle home, you will need to have a water system in place. Giving cattle direct access to creeks and ponds is convenient but unsanitary, so you may want to install a pump to deliver water from these sources to a stock tank. Watering from wells and springs may also be an option, depending on where you live. Be sure to give some thought to how you will keep water fresh in the summer and unfrozen in the winter.

Read more: Waterers and Watering Systems »

Step 6: Set Up Fences and Handling Facilities

The next step in your preparation is to set up permanent fencing, purchase temporary fencing, and prepare your handling facilities. Keep the permanent fencing to a minimum in the beginning—fencing the perimeter of your property should be sufficient until you have a handle on how grazing management works. Make sure you have temporary fencing, line posts, a fence charger, and a fence tester on hand so that you can get your grazing program off to a good start. To safely handle your cattle and train them to respect electric fencing, you will also need a sturdy corral with a squeeze chute. For dairy cattle, you may want some type of milking parlor, even if it is very simple.

Read more: Free LSU Building Plans »

Step 7: Purchase Your First Cattle

You’re ready to buy some cattle and bring them home! If you intend to buy cattle from a breeder, do some homework first and make sure that his philosophy aligns with yours. If you’re making a trip to the local sale barn, make arrangements for payment and transport. Either way, be sure to choose cattle that are healthy and have a good disposition. It is often better in the long run to spend a little more for fewer quality cattle than to pick up culls for cheap.

Read more: Beef Cattle Talk: A Glossary »

Step 8: Introduce Your Cattle to Your Property

So you’ve got your new cattle. Don’t just dump them out in the pasture. Put them in a sturdy pen for a few days to observe them and give them a chance to get used to you. Transition them from whatever feed they were previously eating to their new diet. Worm them, either with a conventional wormer or a natural solution. Put up a short length of temporary fencing at nose height and electrify it so that they learn to respect it in a safe and controlled way. If any cattle show signs of illness, take immediate action as required.

Read more: Natural Cattle Care »

Step 9: Practice Grazing Management

Grazing management is an art, and it will take some practice to acquire this skill. You don’t want your pastures to be grazed down to the soil, but you want your cattle to stay healthy and productive, as well. Furthermore, every environment is slightly different. Rainfall, terrain, and forage species all have to be taken into consideration. However, the best way to learn is by doing. Give your cattle a fresh paddock every day to start and see how closely you can estimate what they eat in a day. As you learn, you can adjust paddock sizes, rest periods, and rotation frequency as needed.

Step 10: Keep Records

What records you need will vary depending on what you are doing. At a bare minimum, you will want to keep track of your income and expenses. Keeping records on pasture condition and forage production can help you improve your grazing management skills. Basic notes on what vaccines, wormers, and other treatments your cattle have received are also handy. Those who raise seedstock will need to keep extensive records on pedigrees and animal performance. The key is to find a record-keeping system that meets your individual needs.

Books

Choosing a Breed of Cattle: 5 Needs and 40 Breeds for Selecting Cattle That Fit Your Purpose

by Michelle Lindsey

Ready to take the confusion out of selecting the right cattle breed for your family? This book will walk you through the process of defining your expectations and then arm you with key information on 40 common cattle breeds. Read more »

Draft Animals: 100 Answers for Harnessing Animal Power

by Michelle Lindsey

Acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to choose and purchase a draft team, and then learn to work them in the field, woodlot, or market garden. Draft Animals: 100 Answers for Harnessing Animal Power uses a unique Q&A format to deliver concise answers to your most pressing questions. Learn more »

Guides

Cattle Breeds

When choosing a breed of cattle, there are many factors to consider. Each breed has its own advantages and disadvantages, and what works well for one family probably won’t suit another. With this in mind, it is wise to learn about the history, uses, temperament, health, and pros and cons of each breed before making a selection. This guide will answer your questions. Read more »

Vitamins

Although no one fully understands vitamins and their functions at present, scientists continue to make breakthrough discoveries in this important area of study. In this guide, we will summarize the findings to date. We will examine the known functions of each vitamin and its natural sources. We will examine the causes and signs of deficiency, as well as the symptoms of toxicity (overdose). To wrap things up, we will briefly discuss some of the medicinal uses people have found for each vitamin. Read more »

Grasses of Kansas

This guide contains key information on the many diverse grasses of Kansas, whether they come from the tallgrass prairie, the sandsage prairie, or just the average roadside ditch. For each plant, you will learn characteristics, distribution, life cycle, ecology, uses, hazards, and similar species. Whether your interest is as a nature buff, an ornamental gardener, or a dedicated grazier, we hope you’ll find the information you need to identify and properly manage the grasses on your property. Read more »

FAQs

What breed is more efficient—British or Continental?
The answer to this question largely depends on how efficiency is defined. British cattle are efficient in that they finish quickly and easily in low-input systems. In a feedlot scenario, however, Continental cattle can be efficient at producing large quantities of lean meat.
How are Charolais to raise?
Charolais cattle can be difficult to raise in low-input systems due to their rapid growth and correspondingly hefty appetites. Furthermore, their difficult temperaments and frequent calving issues make them less-than-ideal choices for beginners.
How many years do Guernsey cows stay fertile?
Guernseys rank among the best of the dairy breeds for longevity. They can commonly stay in the dairy herd until 6 to 8 years of age, and occasionally longer.
Is Guernsey beef lean or fatty?
Guernsey meat is generally lean. However, it is by no means too lean for an enjoyable eating experience. Some producers find that allowing a Guernsey steer to continue nursing for as long as possible helps ensure a good finish without the need for grain.
Is little bluestem good for cows?
Little bluestem is a superb cattle forage when young and actively growing. It is nutritious and high in protein. Be aware, however, that as the summer progresses, it will quickly lose its palatability and protein content.
What is TDN in feed?
TDN is short for “total digestible nutrients.” It is a measure of the energy contained in any given feed.
How does a milking machine work?
A milking machine pulls a vacuum on the teats of the cow, causing milk to flow. A receiving jar collects the milk from all the cows attached to the system. This milk is then pumped into a bulk tank for refrigeration.
What are the advantages of oxen over draft horses?
Oxen are much more low-maintenance than horses overall, being far less prone to soundness issues and requiring much less feed even when working. They also have greater stamina and are less prone to spooking. As an added bonus, an ox’s yoke is easier to use and maintain than a horse’s harness.
Can dairy bulls work?
Dairy breeds are sometimes used as oxen due to their intelligence and athleticism. However, a bull would not be recommended for this purpose, as dairy bulls are notoriously dangerous. A steer would be a much better choice.
What type of wood is used to make ox yokes?
Many different woods are suitable for making yokes. Traditionally, the sturdiest wood available locally was the wood of choice for the beam, or the horizontal part of the yoke. Common choices included ash, cherry, elm, maple, and oak. The bows, or the part that goes underneath the neck of the ox, are typically make of something extra durable, usually hickory.
When can I put a yoke on oxen?
Ox training begins at 6 to 12 months of age with teaching the basic commands (get up, gee, haw, and whoa). Once the ox team is completely reliable, they can be fitted with a calf yoke and taught to respond to the commands while wearing it.
What is upgrading in animal breeding?
Upgrading is the process of improving an animal breed through crossbreeding to another breed with desired traits. The crossbred offspring are then bred back to the original parent breed for several generations until they are virtually indistinguishable from purebred animals.

Essential Information

Breeds

Fencing & Facilities

Feed, Forage & Pasture Management

Health

Beef

Dairy

Draft Work

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