Your finances are the most important records to keep for your ranch. They are what determine how successful you are in your operations, whether you are actually making money through net income (which is your profitability in the business) or whether you’re losing your hat. Using cash flow can help you prepare what to expect for the next fiscal year. Remember that just because you can cash flow something doesn’t always make it profitable.
Fix any broken or loose wires or posts that you may find, and trees that may have fallen on the fence line. It is also highly recommended that you fix any fence that has been damaged by cattle that have attempted to get out (or in), especially if a bull decides to make an exit to see some cows that are in heat at a neighbour’s ranch. [4] X Research source Be aware of local laws relating to escaped animals. You can be held liable for damage done by straying stock belonging to you in many jurisdictions––this is another reason why it’s important to mend fences quickly.
No matter how many pieces of machinery you have, from just an ATV and a bale truck to tractors, tillage machinery, combine harvesters, forage harvesters, swathers, mowers/haybines, balers, grain trucks, augers, etc. , each piece needs to be inspected, oiled, greased, have broken parts replaced, and be in complete working order before being used in the fields.
Take notice of any wildlife habitat or signs of wildlife that are on your ranch. Some species of wildlife may be rare or endangered and only have limited or specific areas for breeding, nesting/birthing, or feeding in. To maintain these species of wildlife, you will need to manage your land and cattle so that you are not disrupting the natural patterns of these wild animals while at the same time encouraging them to return to these areas through such your responsible management practices. Join a local wildlife conservation organization such as Ducks Unlimited so that you have a means to continue to manage your land for both the wildlife and your cattle. [7] X Research source In some jurisdictions, government grants or philanthropic organization funding may be available to assist you. Be aware of the various types of grazing practices available at your disposal and manage such practices according to your goals and objectives, vegetation, soil and topography. It doesn’t hurt to look for online or local courses to attend from time to time, so that you can benefit from the most up-to-date information available. Stay on top of government grants that go toward land maintenance and improvement. [8] X Trustworthy Source US Department of Agriculture U. S. agency responsible for promoting good agricultural practices and protecting consumers Go to source Also look for programs that seek to help you recycle nutrients from waste products rather than discharging them downstream or off your land––you can save a lot of money recycling soil and vegetation nutrients rather than buying in artificial fertilizers and the like.
Be aware that for most North American (especially those in Canada and northern USA) and European ranches winter feeding is the biggest source of financial loss in a ranch operation. It is often what makes or breaks the ranch as a business, so requires very careful management with an eye to absolutely no waste. [10] X Research source Try to take advantage of winter grazing to lower such costs if you are in an area where you get cold winters and snow for four to six months of the year. Options such as swath grazing, bale grazing, stockpile grazing, crop-residue grazing or standing-corn grazing, are available for all cattle producers to try to help lower feed costs and general overhead costs during the winter. [11] X Trustworthy Source Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach program dedicated to educating and engaging communities Go to source
As mentioned previously each ranch is different, which means the times that are allotted to you to cut hay or begin seeding will be different for one part of the country (or world) than the other. Note that some ranches may only have one forage/grain enterprise operations, while others may have all three enterprises. Others may have be able to get around with none of the forage/grain enterprises and are able to graze their cattle year-round, especially in temperate and warm climate zones.
Many ranches prefer to calve out heifers before the cows, since the heifers typically need more attention during calving than the cows do.
With branding time, you can’t be expected to do this by yourself or just your immediate family. Branding in the traditional ranching community is a social event and should be treated as such. Get your neighbors, family and friends out by letting them know that you’re getting ready for branding and need some extra help. They’ll likely be more than pleased to give you a hand. Be sure to reciprocate the help for fellow ranchers.
However, this should be up to your discretion. Having separate breeding pastures may be more work than simply letting the bulls do their job in a bigger pasture with all the cows in it. Heifers should be bred a week or so before the main cow herd, so that the calving season of these heifers start before the rest of the cow herd does. Typically one mature bull can easily handle breeding 30 to 40 cows, especially if they’re more spread out. A bull will be able to service over 50 cows if they’re in a smaller pasture. Younger bulls may only be able to breed 30 cows or heifers at the most. Not all ranches use bull power to breed their heifers and cows. AI (Artificial Insemination) is gaining ground in beef operations as well, and can be made a part of your breeding decisions for your herd.
In order to manage a backgrounding/finishing operation, you need to remember you are managing for growth and average daily gain, not for pounds per calf weaned.
You should try to manage your replacement heifers like you do with your cow herd, not like you do with stocker or backgrounder cattle, since, after all, they are growing into cows, not feeder steers. If you are a purebred operation, you will need to also manage those heifers that you are planning to sell the way you would manage your replacements. It’s not uncommon for ranches to raise purebred heifers to sell the same way they’d raise their heifers for their own cowherd.
Exceptions are if you are a purebred seedstock operation and you are selling purebred bulls and heifers to other producers.
Perform body condition scoring of cows after calves have been weaned as well as preg-checking to verify if they have been bred or not.
Even if you do choose to go the way of the traditional way of ranching and “punching” cows, note that many ranchers have not gone without having some form of handling facilities to work their herd with, including those that choose to keep to tradition. Handling facilities are such that can take cattle from the pasture or range and put them through the sorting pens, working alley, crowding pen or tub, the working chute, then to the squeeze chute. If they’re being loaded up to be taken some place off the ranch or being shipped to the auction, they are moved down a different or adjoining chute to the loading ramp/chute to go onto the trailer.
A business plan is not set in stone either, and is one that’s prone to change. If you haven’t created one already, it would be a great idea to do so, so that you can clearly see what your goals are and where you are in your business. [23] X Research source
Do a deal with a neighbouring rancher that lets each of you take care of the ranch in the absence of the other for short periods of time. This will let both of you find the opportunity to take a well-deserved break now and then.
