You can do it, if you are flexible about start-up location, willing to work hard, and ditch all those silly romantic notions.
You will not be ridin' around on horseback 24/7. No. You will be getting the work done what ever way is most efficient. We are cow servants (shepherds) year - round. It's one of those "dirty jobs" you've heard about, where you can make a good life, if you stick with it.
Current cattle prices are sky high for start-up though.
A couple of options for getting into cattle might be to buy yearlings and raise them, or start out with short-term (older) cows. Might actually be worth seriously considering the short-term idea. They are lower cost up front, you can keep them healthy, raising calves for you, as long as possible. This is what my husband and I, ourselves, did. A good percentage of older cows can have a lot longer productive life than people think.
With older cows, you will need age-appropriate health support. A percent might not cycle well. When raising heifers you have more competition for purchase, then, must cull wild ones and bad mothers. So, old cows are not such a bad idea. Do some homework, evaluate value outcomes to see what you like best.
Look for a herd liquidation sale, or larger groups of a certain type from the same ranch. That way you know you are not the greenhorn sitting in the sale barn buying everybody's cull cow! Let the slaughter buyers take the culls. Get your bulls young, from a reputation producer.
BUY SECONDHAND. Don't buy new.
Buildings already set up increase the cost of land exponentially. Better off starting from scratch on buildings, or a place with ancient old buildings is great. Prop them up and put them to use! Renovate over time as you can. People overlook the value in old stuff and get all googly-eyed about new.
Don't waste ANY of your money on a new truck, or a new tractor. Every dealership in the country will bend over backwards and kiss your feet to try to make you think it's a good idea. NOT. Check Craigslist, Tractorhouse.com, etc... look for used deals.
Get by with what you have whenever possible, without buying anything. Some years you don't make any profit. Don't worry. As long as you can meet your payments, you will come out okay in the long run. Pay down loans with any profits you do make. Keep a job on the side if you possibly can, for a few years, even while you're building corrals and such. Just don't waste your investment capital on appearances. Appearances matter very little, until it comes time to sell out.
Ask around and find a good CPA. You will need an accountant who specializes in agriculture.
You need your family on board. If your family understands and supports it, truly, you can accomplish just about anything. I'm posting a link below to Erin Slivka's column about life on the farm, peppered with a great sense of humor. I highly recommend checking out her perspective! Links to her other blogs are listed on the site.
http://www.theprairiestar.com/entertainment/columnists/future_of_farming/calving-season-the-only-time-we-run-out-of-coffee/article_665804b2-cd7c-11e4-af2f-ff9725b3ebbb.html
I think every rancher could write a book about how to get things to work out, but the truth is, every rancher does things a little different. If you are a rancher, post your comments. Who knows if we might help a young visionary make success of their own dream.
You will not be ridin' around on horseback 24/7. No. You will be getting the work done what ever way is most efficient. We are cow servants (shepherds) year - round. It's one of those "dirty jobs" you've heard about, where you can make a good life, if you stick with it.
Current cattle prices are sky high for start-up though.
A couple of options for getting into cattle might be to buy yearlings and raise them, or start out with short-term (older) cows. Might actually be worth seriously considering the short-term idea. They are lower cost up front, you can keep them healthy, raising calves for you, as long as possible. This is what my husband and I, ourselves, did. A good percentage of older cows can have a lot longer productive life than people think.
With older cows, you will need age-appropriate health support. A percent might not cycle well. When raising heifers you have more competition for purchase, then, must cull wild ones and bad mothers. So, old cows are not such a bad idea. Do some homework, evaluate value outcomes to see what you like best.
Look for a herd liquidation sale, or larger groups of a certain type from the same ranch. That way you know you are not the greenhorn sitting in the sale barn buying everybody's cull cow! Let the slaughter buyers take the culls. Get your bulls young, from a reputation producer.
BUY SECONDHAND. Don't buy new.
Buildings already set up increase the cost of land exponentially. Better off starting from scratch on buildings, or a place with ancient old buildings is great. Prop them up and put them to use! Renovate over time as you can. People overlook the value in old stuff and get all googly-eyed about new.
Don't waste ANY of your money on a new truck, or a new tractor. Every dealership in the country will bend over backwards and kiss your feet to try to make you think it's a good idea. NOT. Check Craigslist, Tractorhouse.com, etc... look for used deals.
Get by with what you have whenever possible, without buying anything. Some years you don't make any profit. Don't worry. As long as you can meet your payments, you will come out okay in the long run. Pay down loans with any profits you do make. Keep a job on the side if you possibly can, for a few years, even while you're building corrals and such. Just don't waste your investment capital on appearances. Appearances matter very little, until it comes time to sell out.
Ask around and find a good CPA. You will need an accountant who specializes in agriculture.
You need your family on board. If your family understands and supports it, truly, you can accomplish just about anything. I'm posting a link below to Erin Slivka's column about life on the farm, peppered with a great sense of humor. I highly recommend checking out her perspective! Links to her other blogs are listed on the site.
http://www.theprairiestar.com/entertainment/columnists/future_of_farming/calving-season-the-only-time-we-run-out-of-coffee/article_665804b2-cd7c-11e4-af2f-ff9725b3ebbb.html
I think every rancher could write a book about how to get things to work out, but the truth is, every rancher does things a little different. If you are a rancher, post your comments. Who knows if we might help a young visionary make success of their own dream.