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You’ve decided to start a cattle ranch. The research has been done and there is a solid business plan to guide you through the journey. One of the most important things you’ll have to keep in mind is the buying of the land. You can never go wrong with buying land that is too big. Going too small could lead to a host of problems. Soil erosion, lack of feeds, and limited movement are just some of the challenges that you might face when the land is too small. This begs the question, how many acres of land do you need for a cattle ranch.
Think About The Location
Before determining the number of acres that will be needed, you’ll first need to figure out the location of the cattle ranch. If you’ll be running the day-to-day operations of the ranch, you’d want to get a place for the long haul. This might require a little more research before you make any conclusive decisions. A good ranch real estate agency should help you pick the right location for the ranch. When looking at the location, you’ll also want to find out about the vegetation, terrain, and amenities that are nearby.
Budgeting For The Ranches
How much you’re willing to spend will also be a determining factor in the size of land that you can spend. You shouldn’t go above what is reasonable for the property as you could be setting up yourself for failure even before starting. The cost of buying land will not be the only one to take into consideration. You also have to budget for staff, equipment, and general maintenance of the ranch. You’re likely to pay more of the production ranch if it is near a popular setting.
You can sacrifice to be away from civilization if you want to get more for the money you’ll be spending on the purchase of the land. Working with a real estate agent that deals with ranches will save you time and money on the research. They will provide details on the rangelands, water sources, cattle market, and soil types so that you don’t have to research such information on your own.
Cattle Ranch Acreage
Experts recommend having 1.5 acres per cow. That means that you’ll need at least 250 acres if you’re to have 50 cows on the ranch. You don’t have to start with such ambitious numbers if it is the first attempt at establishing a ranch. Starting small doesn’t mean that you forget about room for expansion as you grow the herd. You can still buy a big parcel of land and start with a few cows and keep on adding as you get comfortable and gain experience with the process.
Earning Goals
Ultimately, the main goal of starting a ranch is so that you can make money with meat production. The amount of money you make will mostly be determined by the success of your endeavors. The profit per cow could be as high as $200 annually. Starting a ranch shouldn’t be seen as a get-rich-quick-scheme as there are numerous challenges involved. You’re likely to make more profit with an increase in the number of cows. Experienced ranchers tend to make more money compared to those that are just starting out.
Research Cattle Breeds
If you’re starting from the bottom, you should be focused on learning about the different cattle breeds. There are cows that may look like beef cows but that is not always the case. This is particularly true for dual-purpose breeds. You’ll also need to learn about the different beef categories.
Ongoing Costs
According to statistics, feed cost will make up 25% of the total annual costs of running a ranch. There are also other recurring expenses such as payroll which you’ll need to factor in when coming up with an expenses list. You can reduce the annual budgets by being keen on the weather patterns and climatic conditions so as to make the necessary adjustments when it comes to planning.
Making the Business Profitable
The annual profits will be tied to production. As a new farmer, you should be focused on your strengths but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of opportunities that the industry has to offer. You can sell cowhides, offer breeding services, host tours, and even showcase at local events. The onus is on you to be creative when it comes to identifying the different ways you can make extra money with your ranch.
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