Keeping Cattle

Cattle are kept for the following reasons:

• Meat production
• Dairy produce
• A combination of both

Depending on your goal, you’ll need different breed of cow. Some breeds are used solely for beef production, others solely for milk, and a few are dual purpose. We’ll talk all about how to choose your cattle breed tomorrow, for now, we’re keeping things general.

Regardless of your goals, there are a few other factors you’ll need to consider to choose your breed:

Climatic conditions play an important role, as does the type of shelter you have available. Some breeds thrive in cooler temperatures, and others like more arid or humid conditions.

Climate also plays a part in the need for food purchase and storage. If animals are to be housed in winter, they will need lots of feed and it will have to be transported to them. Done incorrectly, this can be labor-intensive and costly. Whether a few pounds of grain per day, hay, or silage, any kind of feed has an expense unless you produce it yourself (which you might be in a position to do, making winter housing more of an attractive option).

Storage of feed can be done in multipurpose buildings; there are many designs to suit your operation and budget.

Water is the most important factor when determining how many and what type of cows you will buy. As a rough rule of thumb, a mature cow will drink between 10 and 20 gallons of water per day depending on your climate and weather. Dairy operations tend to use more water per head than beef operations, due to the necessity of washing down dairy equipment, buildings, and any housing facilities.

The use of communal drinking ponds as a water source should be avoided, as they are a major cause in the spread of parasites and any illnesses that may be prevalent in your area. Best to have water troughs strategically placed throughout your pastures.