How to Raise Cows on Small Acreage

Raising cattle can be a profitable and sustainable enterprise for either beef or dairy production. Proper pasture management, health and nutrition for cattle are essential for a successful operation. When you are selecting cattle, choose healthy looking cows with bright eyes and shiny coats. They should move about freely and be animated and alert. Consult with other local cattle farmers as well as your local feed supply store and veterinarian for additional care and management practices that are specific to your region.

Things You'll Need

  • Fencing
  • Run-in shed
  • Trough
  • Hay Feeder
  • Water Container
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check that your property is zoned for livestock. Your town's zoning department will have that information as well as any building requirements for shelter.

    • 2

      Fence in grazing areas. Split your grazing spaces into at least two smaller fields, allowing you to rotate grazing space and let one field rest and re-grow while the other is in use. This will maintain optimum health and nutrition for your fields and the cows grazing on them.

    • 3

      Shelter your cattle. Giving them an appropriate place to get out of inclement weather is important to maintain their health, as well as the grass in your grazing area. A run-in shed is adequate and is inexpensive to build and maintain. A 12-foot by 24-foot shed is adequate for four cows, and a 12-foot by 48-foot shed is adequate for eight cows. If at all possible, face the opening of the shed south for the best protection from the elements.

    • 4
      Placing hay in a hay feeder will keep the feeding area neater.

      Feed your cattle according to their purpose. Grazing may not be enough for a cow to gain weight, so a supply of concentrates and roughage, or grains and hay, will need to be added to their diet. Place concentrates in a trough. Place hay in a hay feeder to avoid waste. Depending on the amount of grazing space you have, you may have to increase the amount of concentrates fed to the cows so they get enough caloric intake for the day. For example, a growing 650-pound. steer should eat 11 pounds of alfalfa hay and 6 pounds of rolled barley in order to gain 2.5 pounds of weight per day.

    • 5

      Supply clean, fresh water to cattle at all times. If there is not a natural source of water available, such as a creek or stream, provide a large trough or container of water that can be cleaned and refilled regularly.