Hey buddies, in for a roller costa read? Like I promised you before, I am up to present to you all the best businesses you could possibly invest in, so today I bring to you cattle farming or cattle rearing! First, let’s define cattle farming.
Picture Credit: Jini Edmond, Garoua-Cameroon
Cattle farming simply is raising cattle in an agricultural setting to produce labor and commodities such as meat, milk, fur and leather.
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ADVANTAGES OF CATTLE FARMING
This is one of the best and lucrative animal farming businesses an entrepreneur can start.
The cattle can fulfill multiple purposes such as meat, milk, fur and leather which are divers opportunities for a broad market.
Cattle poop can be used as manure for agricultural farms.
Cattle farming business is one whose demand is high and is advantageous because it has a ready and never saturated market.
Cattle farming may have some advantages, but now let’s see what you need to do at each level of your start up endeavor:
1. CHOOSE YOUR SECTOR/NICHE:
Generally many who embark in Cattle farming business offer all the services, from all the sectors that’s why it may seem like there is no specific sector in this industry but there are. You may decide like some of the cattle rearing companies, to major in some key areas. The different areas include:
- Boarding services
- Breeding services
- Diary 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
- Shearing services
- Livestock farming related consultancy and advisory services
2. MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN:
Now that you are sure of the area you want to specialize in, you need to come up with a good business plan. Take time to understand what your business objectives are, are they to build a business to generate profit, grow the business and perhaps expand the business and start exporting processed and packaged beef within your country and other countries of the world.
In your business plan you need to conduct a costing and economic analysis for your cattle farming which critically examines, the following factors;
- Access to the market
- Access to cheap labor
- Climatic conditions
These areas will have to be reviewed again and again at very regular intervals as you embark on your venture. This is so that you can have a proper mastery of your competitive landscape and maximize it for profit.
That is not all; you would also need to include the cost of feeding, medications and health care of your cattle. If you are buying or leasing a piece of land, it will cost you more money as well, not to mention construction expenses to house your cattle.
3. CHOOSE A LOCATION:
Just like poultry farming, location, is very important in cattle farming. Unlike poultry farming, you can’t rare your cattle in an area of your choice e.g. residential areas.
You would need a location that is rather at the out skirts of the town. This is really an advantage because lands in this area are sold for relatively cheap prices.
Things to consider when choosing a location for you cattle farm:
- The demography of the location the demand for beef, milk, and wool in the area
- The purchasing power of the residents of the location or area
- Accessibility of the area
- The number of cattle farms in the community/estate
- Traffic, parking and security
4. EQUIPMENT:
Every standard farm should have the following equipment or machines:
- Milking machine
- Milk collector
- Milk storage tanks and containers
- Water trough
- Fencing
- Shovel and rake
- Wheel barrow or Cart
- If you have a minimal budget, you could purchase fairly used (second hand) machinery.
5. LABOR FORCE/ MAN POWER:
The number of employees you have to get will all depend on the scale of your cattle farming business. For a medium scale, you will need 15 to 20 key staff members. But if you are on a large scale market here are some positions you will need to consider:
- Chief operating officer
- General farm manager
- Veterinary doctor
- Human resources
- Admin manager
- Accountant/cashier
- Sales and marketing executive
- Field employees
- Cleaners
- Security guards
6. LICENCES, INSURANCE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS:
If you have to run this business you must legalize it and insure it in case of any unforeseen circumstance. Make sure you do proper findings on the subject and get them to carry out a law free business.
7. FINANCES:
For this business to be materialize, you will definitely need money. So you have the following available solutions:
Raising money from your personal savings and sale of personal stock and property
Raising money from investors and business partners
Selling shares to interested investors
Applying for a loan from your bank
Get soft loans from your family members and friends
8. MARKETING STRATEGY
You will need to work with your team and come up with good marketing strategies and branding ideas. You need to spend a lot of time thinking about this because a lot of your profit and awareness in the market will entirely depend on this. Think of great adverts, promotions, and much more to boost your business.
Read related Articles on roysfarm.com and thebalancecareers.com
Once you complete these eight steps then you are set to start! Wish you all the best! Please do not forget to give your comment in the box below and also to subscribe to this blog for more entrepreneurial ideas and steps. Also we would love to get your feedback on the businesses you have embarked on from our recommendation and know how it worked for you. See you!!
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