longhorn cattle business plan

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A Couple's Venture Into Raising Longhorns

Bill Martin got into the breed when he was looking for animals to take care of some grass. Now he and his wife have 95 Texas longhorn cows and five bulls.

Bill and Sandy Martin were looking for lawn mowers and ended up in the cattle business. It's a "long" story. Longhorns, that is. "For some of these big guys, you probably need a wide-load permit just to haul them down the road," says Bill, with a grin. He got into the breed when he was looking for animals to take care of some grass. "I heard that longhorns were smart and easy to take care of since they were virtually wild cattle for centuries. Well, now we're in the longhorn business!"

Bill and Sandy own one ranch near Wellington, Texas, and a second property 20 miles away in Childress County with 160 acres of pasture. Both properties are stitched with miles of fencing, pens, cross fencing, and 150 gates, enabling the couple to rotational-graze their herd of 95 Texas longhorn cows and five bulls. They have working corrals at both places.

Longhorns are a dual-purpose animal, says Sandy. "You've got to select them for the job you want them to do: freezer animal or a pasture pretty. My goal is to put out a good-looking animal – one that's pleasing to the eye – and to get some quality beef in the process," she says.

The meat from a longhorn is similar to meat from a deer or an elk, says Bill. It is low in fat and cholesterol. "The longhorn is America's original grass-fed beef," he says.

Sandy moves among the monstrous beasts, their horns swaying from side to side, with no more concern than if she were strolling through a pen of chickens. "These longhorns are just plain intelligent," she says. "You can talk to them like they were a horse. Most times, they will jump right into a trailer to go for a ride."

"They're a thinking animal," Bill adds. "They have personalities."

Nature made the longhorn savvy and lean over the 600 years since the first animals were introduced to North America by Spanish explorers. The hard hooves, long legs, and lethal horns, combined with natural intelligence, have enabled the breed to survive and prosper. They keep predators at bay and travel long distances for water and grazing, using low-quality forages when necessary.

Bill and Sandy started their herd with two bred cows with calves at their side. Others were added as the couple researched pedigrees to breed either for beef or for horn characteristics.

"We're all about chasing horns," Sandy says, "as well as good body styles." The horn growth rate is amazing, she says. "We like them to get 30 inches tip to tip by the end of the first year. Our bull calves have little nubs growing on their heads the first few days after they're born." The horns grow from 1 to 3 inches a month when they're young. The Martins' senior herd sire, BBQ, has a horn spread of more than 95 inches.

A skull and horns can bring $450 to $2,000 for decoration, and the beautiful multicolored hides are made into chairs, couches, and other furniture. Longhorns get little respect from traditional beef cattle markets, Sandy says, even though calves gain 2 pounds per day. "We were selling a few animals and getting canner and cutter prices, and then we were discounted from that rate for ears, horns, colors, and spots," she says.

For that reason, the Martins began selling USDA-inspected Texas longhorn beef at farmers markets in Oklahoma as well as from a retail building on their Wellington ranch. They sell frozen, vacuum-packed ground beef, steaks, smoked sausages, and related cuts.

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Research News

The story of texas longhorns, as told by their dna.

After arriving on Spanish ships, North America's first cattle were left to roam the unfenced lands of Texas and Mexico, subject to hundreds of years of natural selection. Emily Jane McTavish, of the University of Texas at Austin, talks about reconstructing the history of longhorns through their DNA.

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Author interviews, scientists fight to prove humanity 'born in africa', richard leakey reflects on human past—and future, sifting genes for clues to alzheimer's.

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Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Agriculture Industry » Livestock Farming » Cattle and Dairy

Are you about starting a cattle rearing farm for beef ? If YES, here is a complete sample cattle rearing business plan template & feasibility study you can use for FREE. To start with, you may want to consider going on the internet to read up a whole lot about the trade, as well as get information from those who are already in it. Below is a sample cattle rearing business plan template;

A Sample Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The agricultural industry of which livestock farming or better still cattle rearing is a subset of is no doubt among the leading industry in most countries of the world; it is the industry that produce food for the populace and raw materials for industries.

Because of the significant role the agriculture sector plays, the government of most countries ensures that they go all the way to subsidize seedlings, fertilizers, and farming implements and machinery for farmers and also encourage entrepreneurs to go into various kind of farming including cattle rearing.

There are several business opportunities available in the agricultural industry and one good thing about the industry is that there is market for all the produce from the industry. 

Cattle rearing is of course a thriving and profitable business because usefulness of beef and other by products from cattle. People eat beef, drink their milk, and use their fur and skin. With cattle milk, cheese can be made, along with other dairy products.

The Beef Cattle Farming industry is indeed a large industry and pretty much active in countries such as United States of America, Israel, Argentine, Holland, Egypt, China, Germany, Turkey and Nigeria et al. There is no single livestock farming company that has dominate market share in the industry hence smaller cattle rearing business can successfully make profits.

Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 38,184registered and licensed livestock farming business responsible for employing about 62,463and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $13 billion annually. The industry is projected to enjoy 3.1 percent annual growth.

If you are looking towards leveraging on the agriculture industry to generate huge income, then one of your best bet is to start cattle rearing business. Cattle rearing business is all about mass – breeding of cattle ( cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al ) for the sole aim of making profits. In most cases it is referred to as livestock farming business.

One thing is certain about cattle rearing business, if you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies , you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your cattle and its products because there are loads of people out there we eat beef, drink milk and industries that make use of byproducts from cattle in manufacturing their products.

Over and above there are few barriers to entry into the livestock production industry. Usually, all inputs are readily available. In the nearest future, players in this industry may face the highest costs associated with accessing technology, especially in relation to genetic modification engineering in livestock breeding.

So also, intellectual property rights protecting new inventions and technology may mean that new entrepreneurs coming into the industry will need to pay license fees and this of course will cause increase in the start – up fee for starting a livestock breeding/cattle rearing business.

2. Executive Summary

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is a registered and licensed livestock farming company that will be based in the outskirt of Dallas, Texas – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure a hundred acres of land to build our cattle ranch and start our cattle rearing business.

Our cattle ranch / cattle rearing business is a going to be standard one hence will be involved in commercial breeding of cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al. We will also be involved in boarding services, breeding services, dairy support services, livestock health services, farrier services, and shearing services as well.

In the nearest future, hopefully within the first five years of officially running Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC, we will start our meat processing plant and milk processing plant and also start exporting our products to other parts of the world.

Which is why aside from the fact that we’ve secured the required farming land for breeding cattle in commercial level, we have also hired some key employees who are currently undergoing training so as to be able to fit into the ideal picture of the 21 st century cattle rearing business workforce that we want to build.

We are in the cattle rearing business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the livestock farming industry, to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food (meat) production, raw materials production for industries, to export agriculture produce from the United States to other countries and over and above to make profit.

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is well positioned to become one of the leading cattle rearing business in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and equipment to run the business.

We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to cattle rearing processes, meat and milk processing and packaging as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is a private registered livestock farming company that is owned by Perry Coleman and family. The company will be fully and single handedly financed by the owner – Perry Coleman and his immediate family members at least for a period of time.

Before starting Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC, Perry Coleman has worked with some of the leading livestock farms in the United States of America. He has worked in the industry for well over 10 years before resigning to start his own cattle rearing business.

3. Our Products and Services

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is a licensed livestock farming business that is committed to cattle rearing, meat and milk processing and packaging for both the United States’ market and the global market. We will also produce related raw materials for industries in commercial quantities.

We will also ensure that we operate a standard food processing plant as part of our complimentary business offering. These are the areas we will concentrate on in our livestock farming business. If need arises we will definitely add more related animal breeding services to our list;

• Boarding services
• Breeding services
• Dairy support services
• Livestock health services
• Farrier services
• Sale and export of cotton wool and other dairy products
• Sale of Cattle and milk
• Sale of processed meat (beef)/can – beef (Processed Diary foods, and can beef et al)
• Shearing services
• Livestock farming related consultancy and advisory services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision is to become one of the leading cattle rearing business brands not just in Dallas – Texas, but also in the United States of America.
• Our mission is to sell our produce ( cattle, beef and milk ), byproducts and processed meat in commercial quantities both locally, nationally and internationally.
• We want to build a cattle rearing business that can favorably compete with other leading livestock farming / cattle rearing brands in the United States of America and in the globe.

Our Business Structure

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is a cattle rearing company that intend starting small in Dallas – Texas, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading cattle rearing and livestock farms in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands in and around Dallas.

At Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, dedicated, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders ( the owners, workforce, and customers ).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the management of the farm. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions; Below is the business structure of Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC;

• Chief Operating Officer

General Farm Manager

Administrator/Accountant

• Cattle Ranch Manager/Supervisor
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Field Employees
• Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervises other section manager
• Ensures compliance during project executions
• Provides advice on the management of farming activities across all section
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Using IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the growth of crops, fishes, birds and animals
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of farm produce after harvest
• Represent the organization’s interest at various stakeholders meetings
• Ensures that farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied. Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries  out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily farming activities across the various farming sections.
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company

Cattle Ranch and Animal Manager/Supervisor

• Responsible for managing the commercial breeding of cattle (cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al)
• Responsible for managing boarding services, breeding services, dairy support services, livestock health services, farrier services, and shearing services et al.
• Works closely with the General Manager to achieve the organizations’ goals and objectives

Sales and Marketing Officer

• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of new business
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with company policy
• Responsible for handling business research, marker surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company

Field Workers/Contract Staff

• Responsible for feeding cattle and other livestock as instructed by the supervisor
• Responsible for cleaning the cattle ranch
• Change the water in the water trough/trench as instructed by the supervisor on a regular basis
• Handles farm implements and machines as instructed by the section manager/supervisor
• Assists in handling the breeding of cattle
• Carries out task in line with the stated job description
• Assist in transport working tools and equipment from the farm and back to the designated store room
• Handles any other duties as assigned by the farm manager

Client Service Executive/Front Desk Officer

• Welcomes guests and clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the cattle ranch manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the company’s products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients
• Receives parcels/documents for the company
• Distributes mails in the organization
• Handles any other duties as assigned my the line manager

6. SWOT Analysis

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis.

We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard cattle rearing business that will favorably compete with leading cattle rearing/livestock farms in the United States of America and in the rest part of the world.

As a cattle rearing business, we look forward to maximizing our strength and opportunities and also to work around our weaknesses and threats. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC;

Our strength as a cattle rearing business is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the livestock farming industry; both suppliers and buyers within and outside of the United States.

We have some of the latest cattle rearing machines; tools and equipment that will help us breed our cattle (cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al) in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in cattle rearing/livestock farming industry in our payroll.

Our weakness could be that we are a new cattle rearing business in the United States and we may not have the required cash to pump into the publicity of our business. We are aware of this and from our projection will overcome this weakness with time and turn it to a major advantage for the business.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities that are available to us cannot be quantified, we know that there are loads of homeowners, and industries that will source for cattle ( cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al ), beef, and milk and also industries that will source for the raw materials from our livestock farms both in the United States of America and other parts of the world.

Some of the threats and challenges that you are likely going to face when you start your own cattle rearing are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters ( draughts, epidemics ), unfavorable government policies and the arrival of a competitor ( a commercial farm that rear same animals ) as our cattle ranch within same location.

There is hardly anything you can do as regards this threats and challenges other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for your good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

One of the common trends in the commercial cattle rearing or livestock farming line of business is that most players in the industry are no longer concentrating only on farming a particular species of livestock or just livestock / cattle farming alone.

They now find it easier to run both livestock farming and crop cultivation. Some even go ahead to include meat and milk processing and packaging business alongside their product offerings; it helps them 8. Our Target Market

Naturally, the target market of those who are the end consumer of livestock farm produce and also those who benefits from the business value chain of the agriculture industry is all encompassing; it is far – reaching.

Every household consumes produce from livestock farms be it meat, milk, and the skin (leather) used for bags, belts and shoes production et al. So also a large chunk of manufacturing companies depends on livestock farms for some of their raw materials. In essence a cattle farmer should be able to sell his or her farm produce to as many people as possible.

We will ensure that we position our business to attract consumers of agriculture produce not just in the United States of America alone but also other parts of the world which is why we will be exporting some of our farm produce either in raw form or processed form to other countries of the world.

Our Competitive Advantage

It is easier to find entrepreneur flocking towards an industry that is known to generate consistent income which is why there are more cattle ranches in the United States of America and of course in most parts of the world.

For example, Statistics has it that there were 2.2 million farms in the United States of America, covering an area of 922 million acres. These goes to show that there are appreciable numbers of farmers in the United States of America but that does not mean that there is stiffer competition in the industry.

As a matter of fact, entrepreneurs are encouraged by the government to embrace commercial farming / livestock farming. This is so because part of the success of any nation is her ability to cultivate her own food and also export foods to other nations of the world.

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is fully aware that there are competitions when it comes to selling livestock and meats all over the globe, which is why we decided to carry out thorough research so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in the United States and in other parts of the world.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable livestock farming processes that can help us sell our livestock and processed meat and milk at competitive prices, good network and excellent relationship management.

Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have designed our business in such a way that we will operate an all – round standard commercial livestock farms that will be involved in diverse areas such as animal rearing and meat and milk processing and packaging plant. With this, we will be able to take advantage of all the available opportunities within the industry.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be amongst the best in the industry meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our objectives as a standard commercial cattle rearing business with a meat and milk processing and packaging plant.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is in the livestock breeding industry for the purpose of maximizing profits hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within the industry to achieve our corporate goals and objectives.

In essence we are not going to rely only on the sale of our livestock to generate income for the business. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC;

• Sale of Cattle(cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al)  and milk

10. Sales Forecast

From the survey conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by a commercial livestock farm / cattle rearing business depends on the size of the ranch, the network of the business. We have been able to critically examine the cattle rearing industry cum commercial livestock farm business and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast.

The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well with respect to the nature of cattle rearing business that we run. Below are the projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of running Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC;

• First Fiscal Year-: $200,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $450,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $700,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), and unfavorable government policies.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are quite aware that the reason why some commercial livestock farms hardly make good profits is their inability to sell off their livestock to a larger market. In view of that, we decided to set up a standard meat and milk processing and packing plant to help us maximize profits.

Over and above, we have perfected our sale and marketing strategies first by networking with agriculture merchants and companies that rely on raw materials from the livestock farming industry who are likely to refer become our customers.

In summary, Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC will adopt the following strategies in marketing our cattle rearing produce;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stake holders in the agriculture industry, companies that rely on the livestock farming industry for their raw materials, hotels and restaurants and agriculture produce merchant et al.
• Advertise our business and livestock farms in agro – allied and food related magazines and websites
• List our commercial livestock farms on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend related agriculture and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means ( both conventional and non – conventional means ) to advertise and promote the business. We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means.

We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our cattle rearing business. Below are the platforms we want to leverage on to boost our cattle rearing brand and to promote and advertise our business;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our business
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Dallas – Texas
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Contact corporate organizations and residence in our target areas by calling them up and informing them of Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC and the farm produce we sell
• List our commercial livestock farms in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our commercial cattle ranch in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles and trucks are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Some of the factors that will help you sell your farm produce at the right price that will guarantee that you make profits is dependent on your strategy while some of the factors are beyond your control. For example, if the climatic condition is unfavorable and if there is natural disaster in the location where you have your commercial livestock farm, then it will directly affect the prices of your livestock.

Over and above, if you want to get the right pricing for your livestock, then you should ensure that you choose a good location for your cattle ranch, choose a good breed that will guarantee steady and multiple breeding (prolific breeds), cut the cost of running your farm to the barest minimum.

And of course try as much as possible to attract buyers to your farm as against taking your livestock or even your produce to the market to source for buyers; with this, you would have successfully eliminate the cost of transporting the goods to the market and other logistics.

We are quite aware that one of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers for all our cattle rearing produce is to sell them at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our livestock and processed and packaged beef and milk are going to be what other commercial livestock farmers would look towards beating.

One thing is certain; the nature of cattle rearing business we are involved in makes it possible for farmers to place prices for their livestock/farm products based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry. The truth is that it is one of the means of avoiding running into loss. The easier you sell off your livestock when they are mature the better for your business.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

When it comes to calculating the cost of starting a cattle rearing business / commercial livestock farm, there are some key factors that should serve as a guide. The most important expenses is the construction of the cattle ranch / cages/fencing as the case may be.

For example, the start – up cost for a fish farm is different from the start – up cost for mechanized crop farming, so also the start – up cost for poultry farming is different from the start – up cost of cattle ranch (dairy farm) et al. As a matter of fact, if you choose to start a mechanized crop farming, then you should be willing to raise huge capital base to start the business.

This is so because some cultivation machines/equipment can be pretty expensive. Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our start – up capital in setting up our cattle rearing business/cattle ranch;

• The Total Fee for incorporating the Business in United States of America – $750.
• The budget for key insurance policies, permits and business license – $2,500
• The amount needed to acquire/lease a farm land  – $150,000
• The amount required for preparing the farm land (for construction of cattle ranch and cages/fencing et al et al) – $100,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment/machines/fencing et al– $50,000
• The amount required for purchase of the first set of cattle (cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al) – $150,000
• The Cost of Launching an official Website – $600
• The amount required for payment of workers for a period of 3 months – $100,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000

Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of $650,000 to start a standard cattle rearing/commercial livestock farming business in the United States of America.

Generating Funding/Startup Jonah Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC

No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a business such as cattle rearing.

No doubt raising start – up capital for a business might not come cheap, but it is a task that an entrepreneur must go through.

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is a family owned business and it will be financed by the owners of the cattle ranch – Perry Coleman and family. These are the areas where we intend sourcing for fund for Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $200,000 (Personal savings $150,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $450,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to sell our farm produce ( livestock and processed beef and milk ) a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Perry Coleman and Family Cattle Ranch, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our organization’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as determined by the management of the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of farm land in Dallas – Texas: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Start – up Capital Generation: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Building /construction of cages and fence et al: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed working tools, machines and equipment: Completed
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Farm land Treatment, Health and Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with key players in the industry (agriculture farm produce merchants and transporter / haulage): Completed

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Cattle Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Cattle Farm Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their cattle farms. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a cattle farm business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Cattle Farm Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your cattle farm as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Cattle Farm

If you’re looking to start a cattle farm or grow your existing cattle farm company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your cattle farm to improve your chances of success. Your cattle farm business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Cattle Farms

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a cattle farm are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for cattle farms.

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How to write a business plan for a cattle farm.

If you want to start a cattle farm or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The example guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your cattle farming business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of cattle farm you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a cattle farm that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of cattle farms?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the cattle farm industry.
• Discuss the type of cattle farm you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of cattle farm you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of cattle farms:

• Cow-calf: This type of cattle farming involves using mature cattle to breed calves that are then sold to producers.
• Backgrounding: This type of cattle farming involves growing feeder cattle that can be sold to producers once they reach a certain weight or age.
• Finishing: This type of cattle farming involves harvesting cattle to weight in a feedlot, readying them for sale to market.
• Specific Breed: This type of cattle farming specializes in breeding specific types of cattle such as Angus or Hereford.

In addition to explaining the type of cattle farm you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, the amount of meat sold, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the cattle farm industry. While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the cattle farm industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your cattle farming business plan:

• How big is the cattle farm industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your cattle farm? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your cattle farm business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of cattle farm you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other cattle farms.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of meat farms such as poultry, fish, or pork farms, and meat alternative suppliers. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of cattle farming business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for your customers to acquire your product?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a cattle farm business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of cattle farm company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide live cattle, meat, or dairy products?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your cattle farm company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your cattle farm located near a city, in a rural area, or adjacent to other farms? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your cattle farm marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in industry publications and networking events
• Reach out to local meat buyers
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your cattle farm, including answering calls, feeding and caring for cattle, scheduling employees, billing customers and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to acquire your Xth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your cattle farm business to a new market.

Management Team

To demonstrate your cattle farm’s potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing cattle farms. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a cattle farm or running a small cattle breeding operation.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will your farm have 100 cattle on average and will 20% of your cattle be ready for sale every year? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your cattle farm business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a cattle farm:

• Cost of farming equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your farm lease or information about the type of cattle on your farm.

Writing a business plan for your cattle farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert cattle farming business plan, cow calf business plan or a beef cattle business plan. You will understand the cattle farm industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful cattle farm.

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Cattle Farm Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my cattle farm business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your cattle farm business plan.

How Do You Start a Cattle Farm Business?

Starting a cattle farm business is easy with these 14 steps:.

• Choose the Name for Your Cattle Farm Business
• Create Your Cattle Farm Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Cattle Farm Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Cattle Farm Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Cattle Farm Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Cattle Farm Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Cattle Farm Business Equipment
• Develop Your Cattle Farm Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Cattle Farm Business
• Open for Business

Learn more about how to start your own cattle farm company .

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Texas Longhorns in the Empire State

Providing top-of-line registered texas longhorn cattle for breeding and beef for more than 30 years..

We breed for 2-3 generations out— thinking what bull we are going to breed the daughters to. We plan this out, and quite honestly, I don’t deviate too much from it. You have to have a breeding plan if you want to be successful.

The high quality of Albanese Longhorn cattle is well known, and that reputation continues today making the ranch a front runner in the Texas Longhorn industry.

Devoted to a basic concept: use traditional cattle management practices while focusing on producing superior genetics and confirmation

Time-Tested Pedigrees. Superior Genetics.

Come stay with us.

Own Living History

Evolved by natural selection to be uniquely adapted to Texas, the iconic Texas Longhorn amalgamates the annals that built this country with contemporay conservation of the future of our food supply.

DWD Longhorns herd is registered with Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry.

Bulls are DNA tested, showing no evidence of impurity.  All breeding stock are parentage tested for accuracy in pedigree.  Precise record-keeping is paramount in safeguarding genetic diversity.  

View Breeding Herd

Deborah and Don Davis began raising Texas Longhorn cattle in 1991.  DWD Longhorns seedstock have withstood the test of time; enduring droughts, floods, searing triple-digit temperatures, and extended below-freezing spells.  Year after year, these superior genetics wean an average 99% calf crop.  A holistic approach to breeding stock selection placing diversity of pedigree, mothering ability, fertility, low-maintenance, and hearty range-efficiency before our horn and color preference has resulted in exceptional examples of heritage Texas Longhorn cattle.

You are invited to browse our breedig herd photo book and learn about these remarkable cattle.

About the Ranch

We are here to help you start your own herd of conservation Texas Longhorn cattle.  We are happy to share our 30+ years of successess and failures.  We are fortunate to have known and purchased our foundation stock from the founders of Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry.  Enrique E. Guerra, Maudeen Marks, Lawrence Wallace, Fayette Yates, and Biologists at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Joe and Lori 'Chip' Kimball taught us to discern traditional Texas Longhorn phenotypes from contemporary Africanized hybrids. Conserving these Critically Endangered cattle has been our lifes' passion.

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• Why Longhorns?
• Breeding Herd

Natives of Wharton County, we developed a love of the South Texas brush country in the early 1980s.  Both our families have a history in the cattle business, and growing up as country kids, cattle and everything associated with them was normal life.  After long careers, we were finally fortunate to acquire our own piece of Duval County in 2010.  The Palo Verde Ranch is an 1800-acre family ranch with no cross fences, home to our herd of longhorns and a wide diversity of wildlife.

We are located 14 miles south of Freer, Texas, in the heart of the Nueces Strip – midway between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.  The Strip is an area of Texas with a rich and contentious history.  Ownership was contested by The Republic of Texas and Mexico following the Texas Revolution (1835-1845), but finally resolved with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago establishing the Texas state border at the Rio Grande in 1846.

Original home of wide ranging feral cattle, Texas Longhorns, our land is known as the Tamaulipan  Plains and is heavy thornscrub with small pastures and senderos which we regularly maintain and attempt to increase.  As a result, our longhorns are free to enjoy the diverse landscape and regularly roam the entire ranch foraging on native grasses and brush (guajillo is a favorite).  Water is readily available throughout the ranch, and our cattle exploit all we have to offer in total harmony with the brush and wildlife.

Limiting our herd size to 30-50 ensures adequate native, renewable and sustainable habitat with minimal need for supplemental forage.  The result is that our cattle are conditioned, comfortable, and at home on their historical (Heritage) range.  This was no better demonstrated than during the record freeze of Feb 14-18, 2021, when three of our heifers delivered their first calves.  They disappeared into the heavy brush and emerged days later with newborns in tow.  No drama, no losses – just normal life in South Texas.

Goals & Vision

Our plan is to build a solid herd of 30 quality cows, bred annually either through carefully selected bulls on lease or through AI.  Our annual calf crop will either be sold or retained as replacement heifers where appropriate.  However, most of our herd will always be offered for sale as we strive to meet our herd size target while focusing on quality improvement of longhorn cattle at home in the South Texas Brush Country.

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Texas longhorn, characteristics.

• Pure Pleasure - Intelligent and easy to work with, the Texas Longhorn is easily trained to exhibit in the show ring, lead or drive in parades, pull wagons, and yes, even to ride!

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Starting Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan (PDF)

Starting a beef cattle farming business presents a unique and lucrative opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. The demand for quality beef continues to rise globally, making this an opportune time to enter the market. With a growing population and a steady increase in the consumption of protein-rich diets, the beef industry is poised for sustained growth. This demand creates a fertile environment for new entrants, offering a chance to tap into a thriving market. Beef cattle farming involves breeding cows to get calves, which are then raised and sold for beef. Beef cattle production is a very profitable business, and many farmers are making money all over the world by starting cow-calf operations businesses. However, to build a profitable, sustainable beef cattle ranching business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently keep the beef cattle, good business management skills, and a good beef cattle farming business plan. This article will outline how to start the cattle production business, and the beef cattle farming business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

Beef cattle farming is a lucrative business project that is providing income for a lot of livestock farmers. There are some important things you need to consider before you setup a beef cattle production business. You need to gather the correct resources, decide on the size of your cattle farming project this includes the number of cattle; location of the beef cattle production business, as well as your target market. These decisions will be affected by the amount of capital you have, and the size of your target market. If you do not have a lot of capital, you can always start small and grow your beef cattle breeding project overtime. You also need to carry out market research (Who are you going to sell the cattle to? At what price?) and write a cow-calf operations business plan before you start the project.

Market Research

Market research is a pivotal step when embarking on a beef cattle farming venture. It serves as the compass guiding your business decisions and can ultimately determine your success in this industry. Assessing the local demand is essential; understanding the existing market, who your potential customers are, and their preferences can help you tailor your cattle farming approach to meet these needs effectively. It’s imperative to delve into the pricing dynamics of various grades of beef within your target market. This involves a comprehensive examination of not only the prevailing prices but also the factors that influence them. Identifying potential customers and understanding their preferences and price sensitivity is equally vital, as it enables you to tailor your pricing strategy to match their expectations. Additionally, recognizing the seasonality of cattle and beef prices is key, as these fluctuations can significantly impact your revenue and profit margins. A competitive analysis will help you understand the landscape of existing cattle farms, their strategies, and what sets your venture apart. Identifying your competitive advantages and crafting a unique selling proposition can be key to carving out your niche in the market.

As a crucial component of market research in the context of starting a beef cattle farming business, the selection of the appropriate cattle breed plays a pivotal role. This decision encompasses a comprehensive assessment of various factors, including the availability of breeds in your region, their feed conversion efficiency, the cost associated with acquiring them, and the specific demands of the market. Each breed possesses distinct characteristics that impact their suitability for your business, such as their growth rate, meat quality, and adaptability to local conditions. Additionally, you should delve into supply chain considerations, establishing efficient logistics and partnerships to transport and distribute your products effectively.

Land for Beef Cattle Farming

Land is an important factor when you are starting a cattle ranching business. When selecting land for your cattle farm, some important considerations include: availability of good grass and pasture for grazing, availability of good, quality water supply, land size in relation to size of your cattle herd and soil type as it affects forage production potential.  Other factors include availability of already made infrastructure like pens, sheds, buildings, as constructing new working facilities and buildings on a cattle farm is expensive.

A beef cattle farming venture requires huge tracts of land. This is because you will need spaces for grazing and other dedicated farm structures. You must consider the terrain; flat land that gently slopes is ideal. The soil characteristics are important as well – loam soil is the best. That soil type is best suited for consistent pasture and forage development. The availability of adequate pastures is yet another land consideration. You must ensure there are enough pastures. This connects to considering the quality of forage available. Ideally, you need pastures and forage mainly constituted of grasses and legumes. If the legumes composition is at least a third of the total, that would be great. Water availability is also a huge consideration. The best is to have a clean, fresh, and reliable water source. Preferably it should be within a 1 mile radius. This will be convenient for the cattle so that they do not have to go far to find water. It is advisable to check the quality of the water; especially if it is a natural water source. High salt and sulphur levels are detrimental to your cattle. Proximity of strategic road networks is of utmost importance for accessibility and mobility. Bear in mind that within the beef cattle farm, gravel roads are the best.

Housing for Beef Cattle Production Business

To be successful in the beef cattle ranching business, you need to provide proper shelter and housing for your cattle. Beef cattle can be negatively affected by mud, harsh winds, and extreme low temperatures. The design and type of beef cattle facilities should take into consideration the need to provide the required space, feed, shelter, water, waste management and livestock handling features. Beef cattle housing can broadly be in the form of cubicles, sheds, pens, corrals, barns, or open yards. However, it is important to ensure that there is enough shade for the cattle. That is why protection from the weather elements is a huge consideration in beef cattle housing. Protection from predators is also closely tied to that. Overall, the housing must be clean with good ventilation. Plus the beef cattle housing must generally be easy to clean. Ensure that there is dry surface, floor, or bedding. It is best to use dry straw on them; adding sand also helps in that regard.

The cattle housing must be big enough to allow free movement of the cattle. The housing must not be homogenous; there should be separate segments for different specific uses. For example, you need separate segments for calves, sick cattle, or newly arrived cattle. It is recommended that beef cattle housing must be set up on an elevated spot. This streamlines cleaning activities, drainage, and runoff. Take into account the prevailing wind direction in your chosen location – the beef cattle housing should be erected standing perpendicular to that. Other cattle handling structures include crowding pens, sorting corrals, working chutes & gates, squeeze gates and sick pens. However the necessity of the structures depends on the scale of the cattle farming business. The cattle ranch farm also requires good fencing. Pasture fencing for cow-calf operations business is a necessity, so as to contain the cattle and manage their grazing. This can be done by barbed wire, high tensile smooth wire or electric fencing. The costs of constructing the housing should be include in the beef cattle production business plan. 

Equipment For Beef Cattle Farming Business

Beef cattle farming equipment mainly comprises of feed and water equipment. For example, you need feeding bunks and, feeding bins (or troughs) or portable hay feeders. Water equipment can be in the form of or involve drinkers, tanks, canals, pumps, pipes, and the like. Other handy equipment is for handling the beef cattle. For instance, chutes are central to this. Chutes are narrow mechanisms or passages used to control and guide the beef cattle in certain spaces. There are several different types of chutes e.g. holding chutes, working chutes, and loading chutes. Headgates are also central to the use of chutes. Cattle guards or grids are important in controlling the movement of the beef cattle. Then there are general equipment such as protective clothing, wheelbarrows, buckets & pails, livestock trailer, manure spreader, tractors, and the like. Specialized equipment for operations such as dehorning and castrating are needed too. Your cattle farming business plan should take into account the cost of purchasing or renting the land, structures and buying the equipment. 

Breeding Stock for Beef Cattle Production Business

To start a beef cattle production business, you require the breeding stock. The breeding stock consists of male cattle which are known as bulls, and female cattle/cows. Alternatively, instead of using bulls, you can use artificial insemination for breeding the cattle. The selection of cattle breeding stock is basically two-tier. The first aspect involves choosing the cattle breed you want. Then the second aspect is choosing the individual cattle. You can choose to start with calves and rear them to maturity. You could also start with cows or heifers at various stages of development. Another approach can be to start with fully grown cattle. Always remember that choosing purebreds is the best way to go. Your overall choice should be informed by personal beef cattle farming goals. That should also go hand in hand with climatic considerations of your chosen location. Availability of cattle breeding stock is also another huge consideration.

There are a number of specific attributes to note when choosing your beef cattle breeding stock. You should consider the age; young livestock is usually the best to pick. Consider fertility or reproductive rate, and mothering or maternal ability. In beef cattle farming, feed efficiency and quality of meat are important factors. What is cattle’s performance and health status? What are their behavioural profiles? For instance, aggression in cattle is not a good trait. All of these specifics must be ascertained with the backing of comprehensive records. You must also be diligent enough to make physical inspections of the cattle. The idea is to note defects or desirable characteristics. The cattle breeds you choose will affect the beef production potential of your cattle farming business. Some breeds are better than others at producing cattle with good beef quality. Other characteristics which vary among breeds include calving ease, milking ability, feed conversion, diseases resistance, longevity and average birth weight. The most popular breeds used in the the beef cattle farming business include Angus, Brahman, Limousin, Hereford, Simmental, Shorthorn, Texas Longhorn, Nguni, Gelbvieh, Charolais, Africander,  Highlands among others. The beef cattle farming business plan should include the costs of purchasing the breeding stock.

Feed And Nutrition

Success in the beef cow-calf production business is also greatly affected by the feeding program. The feeding program of the beef production business should ensure that adequate nutrition is provided to both the cows and calves at all growth stages and during all seasons. This should be done while keeping an eye on the feed costs, as they greatly affect profitability of the beef cattle farming business. Failure to provide adequate feeding for the beef cattle results in low reproductive performance, poor growth of the calves and poor disease resistance. These factors all lead to reduced revenues for the beef cattle production business, thus lower profits. In beef cattle farming business, weight and grade of meat are the major goals which informs the feeding regiment. Feeding generally depends on the size of the cattle. The bigger the frame, the higher the grain content should be. Cattle f eeding programs of beef farming are usually based on pasture grazing, in combination with supplementary feed. The supplementary feed for cow-calf operations include hay, salts & minerals, concentrates, silage, commercial beef feed, fodder, corn and grains. The most important dynamic is feed conversion or efficiency. Do not make the mistake of thinking overfeeding is a good thing. It usually leads to the build-up of excess fat thus lowering the beef quality. That is why it is important to seek guidance from experts on feeding using the right rations. The feed costs should be included in the beef cattle production business plan. 

Health & Disease Management in Beef Cattle Farming

Ensuring the health and well-being of your beef cattle is of paramount importance in the successful operation of your farming business. A comprehensive approach to health and disease management is not only ethical but also integral to maintaining the quality and productivity of your cattle herd. To achieve this, preventative health measures are vital. This includes implementing a vaccination program tailored to your region’s prevalent diseases, providing access to clean water and nutritious feed, and maintaining a hygienic living environment. Regular monitoring and control of external parasites like ticks and flies are also crucial aspects of preventative care.

Disease monitoring and surveillance form another critical component. Regular health checks and veterinary consultations enable the early detection of potential health issues, while meticulous record-keeping helps track your cattle’s overall well-being. Staying informed about disease outbreaks in your area and having the ability to implement quarantine measures if needed is essential. Collaboration with a veterinarian ensures that sick cattle receive proper treatment and medication, administered according to recommended guidelines. Biosecurity measures should be in place to prevent disease introduction and spread, and continuous education and training ensure that both you and your farm staff are well-prepared to manage cattle health effectively. Prioritizing health and disease management not only benefits your cattle’s well-being but also contributes to the sustainability and profitability of your beef cattle farming business.

Beef Cattle Farming Business Model

The beef cattle farming business model involves a well-defined and cyclical process that begins with the acquisition of breeding bulls and cows. These animals form the foundation of your operation, as they play a crucial role in producing calves, which will eventually become your marketable cattle. The mating of bulls and cows leads to the birth of calves, and from that point onward, the focus shifts to feeding and raising these young cattle until they reach the desired market age, and you then sell them. This careful management ensures that the cattle are healthy, well-nourished, and ready for sale, optimizing their value in the market.

The central financial aspect of this business model lies in managing the costs associated with feeding the cattle, which constitutes the major expense. However, the revenue generated from selling the cattle at market age significantly surpasses these feeding costs and other operational expenses. This robust revenue-to-cost ratio results in a healthy profit margin for the business. The key to sustained success in this model is its repeatability throughout the year, which ensures a consistent and steady stream of income. By following this cycle of breeding, raising, and selling, you can create a reliable and profitable business model in the beef cattle farming industry.

Capital for Cattle Ranching Business

The amount of capital required for the beef cattle breeding business depends on the scale of the project. When starting a cow-calf operations business, most of the capital goes to acquiring the land, building infrastructure, and buying the breeding stock. You can get a loan from the bank, or funding from investors, to use as capital to start your beef cattle farming business. If you plan to raise capital from investors and a loan from the bank, you need a good cattle ranching business plan. If you don’t have access to investors and bank loan, you can use your personal savings and start small, and grow your business overtime. Beef cattle farming is profitable, so if you reinvest the profits you get, you can grow over time. Even if you are not planning to get a loan, you should still get a beef cattle farming project plan to guide you in starting and operating the business. It is essential for you to have a beef cattle farming business plan before you venture into the cattle ranching business, so that you know all the costs involved and you make an informed decision.

Market for Beef

The market for beef cattle is very huge and is ever increasing, annual beef global demand exceeds 75 million tonnes. You can sell live cattle or slaughter and sell as beef. The market for cattle/beef includes supplying to butcher shops, abattoirs, auctions, schools, companies, individual households, farmers, restaurants, organisations, supermarkets, events etc. It’s important for the beef cattle farming business plan to include a proper marketing plan to use in your beef farming business.

The export market for beef is also very huge! As you grow your cattle farming business you will be able to export the beef to other countries.  The largest importers of beef are Russia, United States of America, Japan, China, South Korea, European Union, Hong Kong, Egypt, Canada, Chile and Malaysia. Currently, the top producers of beef are United States of America, Brazil, European Union, China, India, Argentina, Australia, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey and Russia.

Keys To Profitability in Beef Cattle Farming

Profitability is the ultimate goal for those venturing into the world of beef cattle farming, and achieving it involves a multifaceted approach. Efficient resource management stands as a cornerstone, demanding a meticulous allocation of resources like land, water, and feed. Implementing rotational grazing systems can maintain pasture health and maximize forage production, thereby reducing the need for costly supplemental feed. Breeding and genetics play a pivotal role in profitability as well. Selecting cattle breeds that align with market preferences and local environmental conditions is crucial. Furthermore, a focus on breeding programs to enhance genetic traits such as growth rate, meat quality, and disease resistance can significantly impact the bottom line.

Health and disease management cannot be overlooked, as cattle health directly correlates with profitability. Prioritizing preventative measures and proactive disease management not only ensures the well-being of your herd but also reduces costs associated with medical interventions and promotes higher growth rates. Market timing and pricing strategies are equally vital, demanding a vigilant eye on market trends and pricing fluctuations. Utilizing market data to determine optimal pricing strategies ensures that you maximize your returns when selling cattle.

Cost control and budgeting, combined with strategic marketing and branding, enable efficient financial management. Keeping a detailed budget that tracks all expenses and revenue sources is imperative, allowing you to control costs effectively. Building a strong brand identity for your beef products and fostering relationships with local buyers, restaurants, and markets secures consistent sales channels. Finally, a commitment to continuous learning and improvement ensures your profitability endures. Staying updated on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and research in beef cattle farming equips you to adapt to industry changes, enhance productivity, and reduce waste, ultimately driving the success and profitability of your beef cattle farming business.

Why You Need a Cattle Farming Business Plan

Establishing and managing a thriving cattle farming business requires meticulous planning and strategic foresight. A well-structured cattle farming business plan is not merely a formality; it serves as an indispensable tool that can profoundly influence the trajectory of your venture. Financial planning and management is a vital aspect of a comprehensive business plan. It entails detailed financial projections, helping you estimate initial startup costs, ongoing expenses, and potential revenue streams. With insights into your cash flow, you can effectively manage your finances, make informed decisions regarding resource allocation (such as purchasing cattle, feed, and equipment), and maintain financial stability. Furthermore, if you require external financing or investment to initiate or expand your cattle farming business, a well-structured business plan is essential. Lenders and investors will scrutinize your plan to assess the viability and profitability of your venture, making a comprehensive and well-researched plan instrumental in instilling confidence in potential stakeholders.

A well-structured business plan for a beef cattle farming enterprise serves as a vital tool in comprehending the profitability of the business and identifying the key factors that influence it. It provides a detailed financial outlook, allowing you to assess the projected income, expenses, and potential returns on investment. By meticulously examining these financial projections, you gain a deep understanding of the financial health of your cattle farming venture. Additionally, the business plan facilitates an exploration of the factors that impact profitability, including feed costs, market pricing, and operational efficiency. With this insight, you can make informed decisions to optimize profitability, mitigate risks, and ensure the long-term success of your beef cattle farming business.

Pre-Written Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the beef cattle farming business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive cattle farming business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the beef cattle production business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the cattle ranching business, how to keep the calves, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global cow-calf operations business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your beef cattle farming business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the cattle ranching business.

Uses of the Beef Cattle Ranching Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The beef cattle farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your beef cattle farming business
• As a beef cattle farming business proposal
• Assessing profitability of the beef cattle production business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the Beef Cattle Production Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The beef cattle farming business plan include, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Risk Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements (Including technical aspects of how to keep the cattle, feed requirements etc)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in beef cattle farming business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your cattle farm business

The Pre-written beef cattle farm business plan package consists of 4 files

• Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 121 Pages)
• Cattle Farming Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 121 Pages)
• Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 51 pages)
• Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of cattle, selling price of the cattle etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan (PDF)

Testimonial 1

StartupBiz Global provided a very professional and comprehensive business plan which I used for my business. The business plan was easy to edit, and I was able to get the funding which I wanted. I highly recommend their business plans.

Testimonial 6

I purchased a business plan from you, and I’m glad to inform you that I was able to get my loan, and I’m starting my poultry farming business on the 1 st of July. This was made possible because of your business plan. Thank you very much, you made my dream come true.

Testimonial 8

Just wanted to say I am very happy with the business plan and I will gladly recommend your products, thank you very much and have a great day.

Testimonial 5

I was able to understand the business side of farming because of your business plan. You did extensive research; the business plan was well prepared and fully detailed.  It made everything clear, and I have somewhere to start now. I am confident that I am going to succeed in my business because of the guidance from your business plan.

Testimonial 3

I was extremely lucky to come across StartupBiz Global. Their business plan exceeded my expectations, and most importantly I was able to secure a loan from my bank. Thank you guys, now my dreams are coming true!

Testimonial 7

I found Startupbiz Global online when I was in desperate need of a business plan. I was overwhelmed by the quality of the business plan, it’s comprehensive and well researched! I did not have to wait to get the business plan, I got it instantly after payment. I highly recommend Startupbiz Global, and would happily use them again in the future.

Testimonial 2

Many thanks for your incredibly efficient service and thorough business plan. I am very impressed with the business plan. Before I bought the business plan, I tried to do my own business plan – it was such a nightmare and it turned out badly, also not to mention the stress it caused me. I wish I knew about your website earlier!

Testimonial 4

The business plan which I purchased from your website saved me TIME and MONEY! The layout of the business plan was excellent. The financial statements were detailed and easy for me to edit. I will come back to purchase another business plan soon.

Get the Beef Cattle Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your beef cattle farming business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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Liquidating The Herd

By: darol dickinson.

I received a phone call from a lady last Fall who had just lost her husband. She offered her whole Texas Longhorn herd to me at a "bargain price" because she wanted to sell promptly before winter. She didn't have any winter feed. Immediately I wanted to help the lady so I asked her some questions. Her answers were all very disappointing. After ending the call, discouraged, I thought for hours about this nice lady and the mistakes that she had inherited.

Herd liquidation when family members truly love the cattle is always a sad thing. However, there are times when liquidation is the only thing to do. As I thought about this elderly lady that I had never met, I know there will be others in the same decision making process. Every period in life either good or bad will be a learning experience. It is good to learn from other's mistakes rather than our own.

• Question: What are the bloodlines? I don't know. My husband said they were really good ones. He took care of that.
• Question: Do you have the registration certificates? The man he purchased them from said they all could be registered (five years ago.)
• Question: Are the cattle identifiable with number and holding brands? We never branded them but the first ones be bought were branded.
• Question: What do you want for the cattle? I see photos of cattle selling for $2000 and $5000 that aren't any better than our cattle. If you take the whole herd I would sell for $2500 each, all 69 of them.
• Question: Do you have photos of the cattle? No, but maybe my grandson can take some. He has one of those little digitals. (In four months no photos have arrived.)
• Question: Have you considered running ads to spread the word about selling your cattle? No.

By this date the cattle have probably been liquidated and I would guess some one gave about $300 to $500 each for them, if they were fat and healthy. The lady probably thinks the buyer "stole" them from her and perhaps cheated her at a weakened moment.

Thinking about the mistakes made here, how can others avoid this same outcome? How, as a husband, can this be avoided as a major problem to leave with a spouse.

For starters you are either in the registered cattle business or you aren't. Every critter purchased must be registered. Before purchasing there needs to be an agreement. The seller must transfer the certificates promptly right after the purchase check clears the bank. If the seller doesn't provide, transfer, and pay for these certificates, that is a clue that you have a problem. If the seller doesn't offer to promptly take care of this house keeping job, that is the time to get real serious with them. The same duty falls on everyone when selling registered cattle. Can one even dream of a car dealer or real estate agent that just "forgot" to transfer the deeds? Don't do it to someone and don't let them do it to you!

Records must be retained on herd additions and registration certificates kept in order. If not, all cattle are considered as grade or generic cattle and their value is only determined by body condition and weight. Do not think you can consign one to a registered sale and receive several thousand dollars. It doesn't happen.

Regular vaccination and trace mineral provision (not just salt) is important to keep the herd healthy. Most areas need annual or twice annual worming of every critter. These management details cost, but they pay for themselves with a good healthy and consistently reproducing herd.

The registered Texas Longhorn business is a marketing business. It is not just a multiplication thing. Right from the first Longhorn purchase it is normal planning to start some form of advertising effort. More than one publication is a way to spread the information to several audiences. Start the advertisements before there is a desperately needed liquidation. Keep a list of inquiries with clearly written addresses from the ads. It is better to have ready buyers when needed than surplus stock and no place to sell them. One is much nicer than the other.

Take photos of every critter when they are fat and slick. When an advertising photo is needed for a January ad, don't be skiing about the pasture with a camera expecting the cattle to photograph well. Regular photography of cattle in good condition should be done using a numbering system so the photos can be located when needed.

Cull cattle do not help the herd to improve. Castrate and eliminate extra males. One bull can breed 40 to 80 cows. Don't force the herd sire to fight off the whole bull calf crop of the last two years just to do his job. Eliminate old non producing cows. Keep replacing the herd with young stock. Today ground beef is the leading selling meat product grown in the USA. Although an old cow will only bring $300 to $400 at a generic livestock auction, her grind is worth $1000 to $1300 in one pound packages. If a person doesn't want to take an old critter to a custom processing plant in the area and add another thousand dollars to the liquidation, get over it. If God didn't expect people to eat cattle, why did he make them out of steak and healthy lean burger.

Don't hesitate to grind unproductive cows. The value of hamburger is normally triple what they will sell for in a commercial sale barn. Share the burger with family members and everyone wins. You can develop a market for Longhorn grind locally. Nearly 300 million people in the USA eat ground beef. With proper processing the product from Texas Longhorns will be much higher in nutrition and all around health quality than they can get at their grocery store.

When the herd sire has daughters old enough to breed, consider grinding him. Very few adult sires are selling for more money than the value of burger. Only the really good bulls are worth a premium above grind. Young virgin bulls often bring much more money than used senior sires. Use a young unrelated bull and grind the old bull.

Most people think their bull is really, really good. Remember the facts of life are, 50% of all bulls are below average and the other 50% are above average. Unless you are absolutely sure your bull is above average by quite a lot, he is definitely a good burger prospect. Always force yourself to keep an eye on reality.

One way to increase herd value is artificial insemination. The same 50% applies to semen sires. Half of them are also in the bottom 50% of the A. I. sire group. Only breed to the very best AI sires. Progressive beef breeds are breeding over 40% of their cows AI. Dairy herds are over 90% AI. In the Longhorn breed less than 2% are AI bred. What does this tell you?

Don't over stock your pastures. It is often better business to lease more pasture, if it is needed, than to buy land or buy feed. Always consider leasing land as an option to liquidation. Often Texas Longhorns are more profitable than land investments.

There are management methods that can cause herd values to increase, and methods that cause value reductions. Ask someone successful with registered Texas Longhorns who has been in the business a long time to explain the difference. Don't ask a commercial cattle raiser, there is a lot of difference in registered and commercial.

Participate in national association activities and local affiliate events. This is a team effort business. Although it is nice for other people to always carry your water, the time comes when each needs to serve in some helpful capacity to increase breed awareness, show organization, field days, etc.

If you are a multiplier of cattle you have a responsibility to be a multiplier of cattle producers. Encourage friends to raise Longhorns. Every breed can only grow as fast as new people come into the circle of friends and producers. Some owners hope to profitably sell cattle in the future yet have never signed up a single new member. Is something wrong with this picture?

Some cattle multipliers totally refuse to contribute. Will they help build the world Texas Longhorn business or just harvest the efforts of producers who have carried water in days past? Part of enjoying a liquidation at some future day (or your widow) is to have generously contributed to the success of the breed, the association and to healthy promotional efforts. There are some people who have raised quality cattle for ten or twenty years and have never purchased a color page ad or donated to a benefit association fund raiser. Some are givers and some are only takers, and everyone knows the difference.

Plan a liquidation as far into the future as possible. These things take time and planning. Registered cattle always sell higher in the Spring than in the Fall. When wild birds start to lay eggs and grass starts to grow, it is the right time to sell. At that time cattle are higher in value.

As you think of things that are good and positive and compare them to failed efforts that are proven not to work, notice that there is a great difference. Some actions make good and profitable things happen and some actions cause failure and discouragement.

I hope this article will assist each TLJ reader in successful planning and herd evaluation. May you never have to liquidate.....but if you do, I hope your business plan is so sound you can't stir the buyers with a scoop shovel and they stand at the door fighting over who gets to buy the first load of your registered Texas Longhorns.