{"id":9569,"date":"2023-01-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=9569"},"modified":"2023-01-28T11:21:24","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T11:21:24","slug":"how-to-raise-beef-cattle-on-a-few-acres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-raise-beef-cattle-on-a-few-acres\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Raise Beef Cattle On A Few Acres?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019re short on space, it\u2019s essential that you know how to raise beef cattle on a few acres. Believe it or not, you don\u2019t need thousands of acres of lush pasture in order to raise enough beef for yourself and your family. You just need to follow these tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Many Acres Does it Take to Raise a Beef Cow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/portrait-of-cow-standing-in-pasture-248337-1.jpg\" alt=\"how many acres does it take to raise a beef cow\" class=\"wp-image-6285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/portrait-of-cow-standing-in-pasture-248337-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/portrait-of-cow-standing-in-pasture-248337-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/portrait-of-cow-standing-in-pasture-248337-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/portrait-of-cow-standing-in-pasture-248337-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Raising beef cattle can be rewarding in so many ways. Whether you plan to raise beef cows to support your family\u2019s T-bone steak habit or to sell to a larger market, you might assume that you need hundreds of acres to do so effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, that\u2019s not the case. It\u2019s possible to raise a beef cow on limited acreage &#8211; as long as you go about it the right way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The general estimate from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/Internet\/FSE_DOCUMENTS\/stelprdb1167344.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Natural Resources Conservation Service<\/a> of the USDA is that it takes one and a half to two acres to provide enough food for a cow-calf pair for one year (twelve months).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, you\u2019ll want to consider the following variables to determine how much space you need for your cows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The length of the grazing season in days<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average weight of your animals (a cow-calf pair will need less space than two cows, for instance)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The pasture type and yield (or growth rate &#8211; grass doesn\u2019t grow in equal amounts the entire year)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether you will be rotating pastures (recommended) or allowing animals to continuously graze<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The breed of cows you are raising along with their feed conversion ratios&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Raise a Cow on 1 Acre?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nature-animal-agriculture-cow-36347-1.jpg\" alt=\"can you raise a cow on 1 acre\" class=\"wp-image-6284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nature-animal-agriculture-cow-36347-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nature-animal-agriculture-cow-36347-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nature-animal-agriculture-cow-36347-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nature-animal-agriculture-cow-36347-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The average cow needs about 4% of its weight in forage per day. That is regardless of age or breed, for the most part. Once you know how much forage your animal needs, you can figure out how much pasture is necessary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, raising a single cow on one acre is possible. It wouldn\u2019t be wise to add much more than that, though, as you will be pressing the limitations of what your pasture can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there are a lot of factors that go into figuring out whether an acre is enough. How well does the grass grow? Will your cow be penned in a barn for part of the year (the winter) or on pasture the entire time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, it\u2019s not just pasture space that you\u2019ll need to account for in your calculations, but also barn space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the vast majority of farmers, a barn will be necessary to house and feed their cows in the winter, since grass won\u2019t grow beneath a snow cover and supplemental hay will be necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you only have an acre of space on which to raise your cows, you will likely not be farming your own hay. Because of this, you\u2019ll need to plan for buying hay in your budget, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there are ways to raise cattle on limited acreage without buying hay from someone else. This video has some excellent tips on how to do so.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a8Z_fDL9C3M\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"how we raise 35 Dexter cattle on 30 acres - without buying hay!\" title=\"Play video &quot;how we raise 35 Dexter cattle on 30 acres - without buying hay!&quot;\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a8Z_fDL9C3M<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a8Z_fDL9C3M\" title=\"how we raise 35 Dexter cattle on 30 acres - without buying hay!\">how we raise 35 Dexter cattle on 30 acres &#8211; without buying hay! (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a8Z_fDL9C3M)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Many Cows Can You Put on 3 Acres?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Determining how many cows you can put on three acres will depend largely on your pasture management and production goals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s good pasture, you can estimate one head per acre &#8211; but if it&#8217;s marginal, it will be less than that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In almost all cases, you will also need to provide some supplemental feed in the form of bales of hay in the winter or perhaps some grain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can of course stock at a higher density than that &#8211; but it won\u2019t be to the benefit of your fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These will quickly turn to mud and you\u2019ll likely have more parasite problems and other issues related to overcrowding to deal with, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deciding How Many Cows to Raise: Tips to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cows-on-pasture-3237797_1280-compressor.jpg\" alt=\"cattle per acre calculator\" class=\"wp-image-6305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cows-on-pasture-3237797_1280-compressor.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cows-on-pasture-3237797_1280-compressor-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cows-on-pasture-3237797_1280-compressor-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cows-on-pasture-3237797_1280-compressor-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Cattle Per Acre Calculator&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you aren\u2019t quite sure how many cattle you can raise on the property you already have available, the good news is that there are some cattle per acre calculators you can use to give you a rough estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A word of caution, though &#8211; many of these do not factor in pasture type or climate. You might have a harder time pinpointing how many cows you can raise with that in mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. How Long Does it Take to Raise a Cow for Slaughter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also want to consider how long you will be grazing your cows on the few acres you have available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It takes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uaex.edu\/publications\/pdf\/FSA-3143.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">over a year<\/a>, about 367 days, to grow a 500 lb calf to the 1000 lbs (average) it will need to be for slaughter. The typical daily weight gain is a pound and a half per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you are grazing beef cattle on forage that is of limited quality and\/or quantity, it will likely take longer for them to get to slaughter weight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Is Raising Beef Cattle Profitable?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be, when done correctly. Beef cattle are often considered the easiest livestock to raise for profit since they don\u2019t require quite as much daily maintenance as livestock like sheep and goats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, they reach heavy weights quickly, meaning it\u2019s easier to turn a larger profit on a single animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Pasture Type&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Take into consideration your pasture type along with your climate and water availability. If you live in an area with mild summers and plenty of rain, you likely will have pastures that are filled with more lush, green growth\u00a0 &#8211; translated, food for your cows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of this, you can probably maintain higher stocking densities than if you live in the deserts of Arizona, where feed will be more limited.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Breed and Condition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To save yourself some time and money, put some effort into researching cattle breeds so that you can find animals that will perform best on the land you have available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re tight on space, choose animals that are docile and easy to handle as well as those that gain weight quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will not only reduce the amount of time spent tending to your livestock but will also limit the likelihood of animals breaking free from fences &#8211; a consideration if you have neighbors close by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, if you\u2019re raising cattle in a limited space, you\u2019re probably going to be spending much more time interacting with them than if they were out on rangeland &#8211; so docility is a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Breed adaptability to the climate is important, too. For instance, Brahmas don\u2019t do as well in cold climates but perform quite well in warm ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also invest in cattle that are lean and healthy. Fat cows won\u2019t gain meat weight as efficiently, instead putting on lots of fat &#8211; and consequently, reducing the efficacy of the limited pasture you have available.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Raising Cattle on Limited Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cow-1715829_1280-compressor.jpg\" alt=\"how long does it take to raise a cow for slaughter\" class=\"wp-image-6302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cow-1715829_1280-compressor.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cow-1715829_1280-compressor-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cow-1715829_1280-compressor-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/cow-1715829_1280-compressor-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, when raising beef cattle on just a few acres, you\u2019ll need to take the same steps to <a href=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-care-for-a-cow\/\">care for them<\/a> as you would if they were out on hundreds of acres of rangeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shelter is essential so that your cows can get out of the weather. If they can\u2019t, they\u2019re going to spend more energy trying to stay cool or warm than they are putting on weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will also want to make sure your property is adequately fenced. Cattle don\u2019t need a lot in the way of fencing but since you\u2019ll likely be closer to other property lines, you need to keep in mind that you will be held liable for any damage your cattle cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A solid diet and feeding regimen are essential when it comes to keeping cattle healthy regardless of how much space you give them but especially on limited space. Don\u2019t overcrowd your cattle regardless of the temptation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give them as much space as you can, even if that means raising fewer animals than you\u2019d ideally like to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Add a vitamin and mineral supplement to your feed if you\u2019re worried that the pasture won\u2019t be able to handle their needs as well as it should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With these tips in mind, you can start planning out your beef cattle enterprise. It\u2019s a great possibility even for farmers with limited acreage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1-20.jpg\" alt=\"how to raise beef cattle on a few acres Frequently Asked Questions\" class=\"wp-image-12192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1-20.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1-20-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1-20-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1-20-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674904506122\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">1. Where can you find official guidelines on pen and housing size for beef cattle?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Refer to the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS)Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asas.org\/docs\/default-source\/default-document-library\/agguide_4th.pdf?sfvrsn=56b44ed1_2\">This publication<\/a> is commonly referred to as the &#8220;Ag Guide&#8221;. Although this publication is geared toward research and teaching enterprises, the information it contains can easily be applied to agricultural projects. Also, refer to a <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.psu.edu\/beef-cattle-spacing-requirements\">handy summary table<\/a> of this information prepared by Penn State Extension.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674904521500\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">2. What is bunk space, and why is it important?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Bunk space is the area or apron surrounding a cattle feeder. This is where young cattle will congregate and stand side-by-side to eat. It is important to provide generous bunk space because if cattle must compete aggressively to eat, they will experience anxiety and burn calories. This adds up to low weight gains.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674904522749\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">3. Why is it important for cattle raised for meat to be bunk broke?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Cattle who are bunk broke know how to eat from a feed bunk (rather than from the ground, from a feed pan or simply by grazing). Eating effectively from a feed bunk is a learned skill. Cattle who are bunk broke will be more efficient feeders and will gain more weight.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674904523491\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">4. How can I figure out how many cattle I can have on my specific land?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omnicalculator.com\/biology\/cattle-per-acre\">Cattle per Acre Calculator<\/a> to input the specifics of your resources and your plan.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674904524188\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">5. What specifics should I keep in mind when determining how many cattle I can run on my land?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Things to keep in mind include the condition of your pasture and your grazing strategy. Variables such as the weather and the type and amount of forage you plan to provide also play an important part in determining the number of cattle you can successfully keep.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re short on space, it\u2019s essential that you know how to raise beef cattle on a few acres. Believe it or not, you don\u2019t need thousands of acres of lush pasture in order to raise enough beef for yourself and your family. You just need to follow these tips. How Many Acres Does it &#8230; <a title=\"How To Raise Beef Cattle On A Few Acres?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-raise-beef-cattle-on-a-few-acres\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How To Raise Beef Cattle On A Few Acres?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":12192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[43],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9569"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12196,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9569\/revisions\/12196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}