Starting To Raise Cattle - 4 Essential Considerations When Buying Cattle Breed

As with any purchase it is important that you get
value for your money. If you are uncertain about
how to purchase a beef animal then it would be
best to deal with someone who is ethical and
understands this side of the business. The
idea is to not go into a purchase with little or
no information or background. This could
include a family member, friend, neighbor, local
farmer or County Agent. Here are 4 important
considerations when buying cattle breed for your
cattle farming venture:

1) Breed - In most situations frame and
conformation are more important than breed in
relation to cattle performance. However, there
are some things to consider. Holsteins will work
well in a feeder or finishing enterprise. They
require different management and sell in a
different market category. Animals with a high
percentage of Brahman genetics do poorly in cold
winter conditions. The disposition of the cattle
can be an important factor which can be a breed
characteristic. Avoid cattle that are
high-strung or aggressive.

2) Condition - If you are purchasing cattle to
put on pasture avoid cattle with excess fat as
they gain poorly for the first month. Cattle
should be healthy but lean and avoid cattle that
may not have performed well elsewhere. You may be
able to purchase them for less money but they
probably won't achieve an acceptable
performance.

3) Frame Size - Cattle with a small frame will
finish at a light weight while cattle with a
large frame will finish at a heavy weight.
Cattle with different frame sizes require
different feeding programs. Since you will want
to manage your cattle as a group, purchase
cattle that are uniform in frame size.

4) Health - Does the animal look healthy? Are
there any symptoms of cattle diseases? Is it
alert and bright eyed? Is its breathing normal
and does it move about vigorously? Does it have
a dull hair coat and look emaciated? What has it
been vaccinated for and when?

You should also consider the location of your
farm. Does your farm have good pasture where
your cattle can graze and eat regularly? Is the
location suitable for cattle farm? You should
also consider the neighbor in the location of
your farm so that you will not have any problems
in the future. Your farm should also be large
enough so that your cattle can graze around.
Your cattle need to move and not just stay in
one area. Your farm should have shelter for your
beef cattle. As a starter, you don't need a big
barn for your cattle. A good windbreaker will be
enough to protect your calves since they are
strong enough to stand different weather
conditions.

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Explore your options and then decide. Starting to
raise cattle can improve quality of life and
provide great satisfaction and responsibility
for families. If you would like more tips on
starting to raise cattle, please visit:
http://www.howtoraisecattle.com

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