How to Raise Beef to Sell

Beef is a popular meat product in the United States and much of the rest of the world. Cows raised for beef production can be a valuable commodity. Raising cows, as with caring for any kind of animal, is hard work. It is a significant responsibility and can be expensive. The financial reward of selling the cows can be significant, but you must first take all the steps necessary to successfully raise healthy animals.

Things You'll Need

  • Pasture land
  • Calves
  • Corral and associated facilities
  • Industrial mower
  • Medical supplies
  • Water facilities
  • Salt
  • Mineral supplements
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consult the laws and regulations of your state and county for raising and keeping cows. These laws and regulations will vary, depending on your location, but must be obeyed if you plan on raising cows.

    • 2

      Buy weened calves, either from auction or a supplier. You can set up a number of different kinds of cow-raising operations, but buying weened calves will simplify the process.

    • 3

      Turn out the calves on your pasture. Depending on age, breed and how they ultimately will be used, cows may have different nutritional requirements. Pasture land, however, is their natural diet. In most cases, pasture will take care of the majority of your cow's nutritional requirements, though you may need to supplement their diet with grain, hay or other kinds of feed. If you are unsure of your cow's dietary requirements, you should consult a veterinarian or someone familiar with your breed.

    • 4

      Provide the cows with adequate water, salt and mineral supplements during pasture season.

    • 5

      Mow your pasture periodically to remove seed heads from grasses and plants. Once pasture plants have seeded, they will stop growing.

    • 6

      Monitor the health of your cows and be proactive about treating any illnesses. You may be able to treat some common issues, though a veterinarian should be consulted if you are unsure about proceeding with treatment. Use your corral facilities to allow for closer inspection of the cows. You can also confine cows so treatments can be administered. You should give corralled cows access to food and water to both meet their dietary needs and keep them calm.

    • 7

      Construct additional animal housing facilities if you plan to raise cows beyond the summer pasture season. You will also need to consider feeding facilities, including how you will store and access grain or hay.

    • 8

      Contact your local livestock auctions to prepare for selling your mature cows. You may sell cows to graze and mature elsewhere or that are ready for slaughter, depending on your operation.