Business plan for a meat farm. Business plan for a cattle farm for growing and breeding beef cattle for meat with calculations

We propose to consider a business plan for cattle breeding using the example of a small farm in the Ulyanovsk region. This business plan can be used as a feasibility study for agricultural activities. enterprises when receiving a bank loan or participating in government support.

Description of the cattle breeding project

We bring to your attention a feasibility study for the creation of a small enterprise for breeding cattle.

The goal of the project is to breed beef and dairy cattle for subsequent agricultural sales. products to the population in the form of milk and meat.

The production of this type of product is a promising direction, since the meat products market is one of the largest food markets. Meat products are in constant demand both among the population and among organizations when purchasing meat products for further processing.

Where to start implementing the project

1. Construction of premises for livestock breeding;
2. Purchase of young animals for meat and dairy production;
3. Growing and breeding animals in order to obtain a finished product in the form of milk and meat;
4. Sales of finished products (milk and meat) to the population.

To implement the project, it is planned to attract credit funds in the amount of 650 thousand rubles. The entire amount of the loan received will be used for the purchase of fixed assets and the construction of premises for keeping livestock.

How much money do you need to start a cattle breeding business?

To carry out the production activities of the enterprise, an individual entrepreneurship was registered.

Which OKVED code should I indicate when registering this business?

The main activity of an individual entrepreneur is OKVED code 01.2 – livestock farming.

Which tax system to choose for cattle breeding

The simplified tax system (STS) was chosen as the taxation system - 6% of gross income.

At the beginning of the project, the following livestock will be purchased:

1. Cows aged 24 months – 5 heads;
2. Young cattle (bulls) aged 6 months – 12 heads;

A total of 17 goals.

The main part of the feed will be purchased from farmers. processing enterprises at retail prices. The rest of the feed (hay and straw) will be partially procured by the individual entrepreneur.

The production activities of the farm will be carried out with the involvement of 2 hired workers for general laborer positions.

Table No. 1: Planned staffing

Product Description

The project provides for the purchase of young cattle from third-party organizations with further raising of the livestock on the farm and the sale of meat and dairy products.

The activities of our farm will be divided into 3 stages:

1. purchase of young animals (up to 6 months old);
2. animal care;
3. sale of the resulting products - meat and milk.

To obtain high milk yield, it is planned to purchase a highly productive black-and-white breed for dairy production. This breed of cow is capable of producing about 8,000 liters of milk with a fat content of 3.5 - 4% or 20 liters of milk per day during the lactation period (305 days). The live weight of an adult cow is from 450 to 600 kg. In one calendar year, a cow consumes an average of 18 tons of feed.

To raise beef cattle, calves of the Simmental breed will be purchased. This breed of cattle is characterized by increased meat productivity; by the age of 18 months, the bull gains weight from 850 to 1100 kg.

The cattle feeding diet will include:

• Compound feed;
• Straw;
• Hay;
• Haylage;
• Roots;
• Beet;
• Potato;
• Cake and meal.

Marketing plan

The main competitors of our farm will be similar producers, personal subsidiary plots, peasant farms and larger agricultural production complexes.

Sales of manufactured products are planned to be carried out in the following areas:

1. Sales of products at retail outlets in Dimitrovgrad, in particular at the “meat market”;
2. Sales of meat and milk in the locality at the place of registration of the individual entrepreneur;
3. Sale of manufactured products in small wholesale to reseller organizations;
4. Sale of products in the form of exit trade (from a car) in neighboring settlements.

Sales of products will be carried out at prices:

• Beef retail: 250 rub./kg;
• Beef wholesale: 170 rub./kg;
• Milk retail: 35 rub./l.;
• Milk wholesale: 24 rub./kg.

It is planned to sell up to 2250 liters per month. milk and 350 kg of meat, or:

1. Retail milk – 1000 kg;
2. Wholesale milk – 1250 kg;
3. Retail meat – 150 kg;
4. Meat wholesale – 200 kg.

The structure of sales of manufactured products is presented in the form of a diagram:

Production plan

To determine the main economic indicators of the enterprise’s activity, we will calculate the planned expenses and income of our farm.

To grow and maintain 1 head per month, an average of 1.5 tons of feed (hay, straw, grain) is required. One adult cow eats about 50 kg of feed per day. The average cost of a feed ration (50kg) per day is 80 rubles, per month – 2400 rubles per head. To maintain 17 heads per month, an average of 41,000 rubles will be spent.

Table No. 2 Fixed expenses of the farm

In total, the total monthly costs will be 79,000 rubles.

How much can you earn from this business?

Let's move on to calculating the monthly gross income of the farm.

Milk

On average, one cow produces 20 liters of milk per day. For the first 2 months, 10 liters of milk will be used to feed the calves. Subsequently, all milk is used for sale. Considering that 2 months are allocated for calving, the planned volume of milk sales per year will be 5400 liters per cow:

1. 30 days*20 liters/day*8 months=4800 liters
2. 30 days*10 liters/day*2 months=600 liters

Accordingly, from 5 heads per year you can get up to 27,000 liters of milk.

Meat

Bulls purchased at the age of 6 months, with proper nutrition and care, will gain up to 500 kg of live weight in 1 year; with a meat yield of 70%, the yield is about 350 kg each.

Accordingly, from 12 heads you can get up to 4200 kg of marketable meat.

Table No. 3 Average monthly revenue of the farm

In total, the total monthly revenue will be 1,638,000 rubles.

* For ease of calculation, sales volumes are indicated by month. However, in the financial forecast, for the first time, meat will not be sold for several months (unlike milk), but as the young animals grow, the entire volume of meat will be sold. As a result, the proceeds received from the sale of meat will cover all previous costs of maintaining the animals, and the remainder of the funds will be our profit.

Calendar plan

To implement the project it is necessary to carry out the following activities:

Table No. 4 Project implementation schedule

It is planned that milk sales will begin in the fall of 2013. The sale of the first batch of meat is planned for the summer of 2014.

Financial plan

To organize a farm, investments in the amount of 650 thousand rubles will be required. A bank loan will be issued for these purposes.

The main expenses will be the cost of raising animals, that is, feed - 41 thousand rubles per month. The second largest expense item is the payment of wages to two workers - 20 thousand rubles. per month.

The structure of annual farm costs is presented in the form of a diagram:

Based on the above data, we can calculate the main indicators of economic efficiency of the farm:

with quality guarantee

This is a full-fledged, finished project, and not a school essay. There are no such projects in the public domain.

1. Confidentiality
2. Summary
3. Project implementation stages
4. Object characteristics
5. Marketing plan
6. Technical and economic data of equipment
7. Financial plan
8. Risk assessment
9. Financial and economic justification for investments
10. conclusions

Which equipment to choose

• Tractors for transporting feed and removing manure from barns.
• Various attachments for tractors necessary for collecting and preparing hay: mowers, rakes, tedders, plows, etc.
• Gazelle for transporting dairy and meat products to the market.

In addition to the basic equipment, it is also necessary to purchase milk cans, shovels, forks and other agricultural tools.

What documents are needed to open

Raising cattle for commercial purposes to sell meat and milk requires registration of an individual entrepreneur or LLC, depending on the volume of production and the number of co-founders. Documents required for registration of an individual entrepreneur: an application certified by a notary, a photocopy of the passport and ID code, a receipt for payment of the state duty, as well as an indication of the required OKVED codes. After this, a veterinary examination of the animals will also be required in order to be able to sell meat and milk on the market.

Do I need permission to open?

To open a farm, you will need to obtain permission from the fire inspectorate and sanitary-epidemiological station. In addition, you need to open up the face of communication and choose the optimal form of taxation.

Breeding technology

It is better to focus cattle breeding on the production of two types of products: milk and meat. To sell milk, the best option would be to enter into a wholesale distribution agreement with nearby dairies. This way you can always supply fresh goods to the market, regardless of the amount of milk produced. Additionally, you can organize the production of skins, wool, and young animals. Also remember that success in the cattle business lies primarily in the health of the animal, so hiring a full-time cattle breeder and veterinarian is a must. It is better to start a business with a small farm, and gradually invest the money received in its expansion. This will allow you to better feel the market, coordinate contact with the consumer and amortize start-up costs.

How to increase your chances of success before the project starts

Before you finally decide which breeding business to start, pay attention to other business plans, it is better to invest a little time and a small amount of money on detailed research now, than later sadly think about who needs my products.

4 ready-made business plans for breeding that you can download right now

See also several similar premium business plans:

Any business requires registration and accounting:

In recent years, many farmers have abandoned livestock farming in favor of crop farming. We will try to prove that a business plan for cattle breeding is a very profitable activity.

The fact is that currently there is state support for domestic producers. One of the points of such a program is financial assistance to entrepreneurs who are engaged in the restoration of abandoned livestock farms. It is not surprising that beef cattle farming as a business will experience a new wave of popularity.

Choosing pastures for business

Before you take your first steps in cattle breeding, you need to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of pasture land in your region, since they will be used as natural feeding grounds for cows. If arable land predominates, it is extremely unprofitable to engage in such a business.

If there is enough pasture land, this means that cows will eat for free almost all year round. In the absence of such an opportunity, you will have to purchase feed, but then livestock farming will turn into a golden business, and all your income will be “eaten up” by expenses.

But arable land will also be useful. They will be used to grow food for the winter.

What is the area of ​​pasture land for raising cows? One cow and one calf will require 1-1.5 hectares of pasture and the same amount of arable land. Thus, to maintain 100 cows plus 100 calves and three bulls, at least 300 hectares of land will be required in the ratio of 150 hectares of pasture and 150 hectares of arable land.

Meat and dairy cattle breeding

Cows can be raised in two ways:

• Dairy
• Beef cattle breeding.

Beef farming means raising cows to produce beef. These breeds of cows are not used for milking. They are kept for the birth of young animals, which are subsequently fattened and at the age of 1-1.5 years are sent for slaughter. This option is advantageous because the calves feed on their mother’s milk for the first six months, and the farmer’s costs are almost zero.

Dairy farming has certain advantages. So, in addition to obtaining milk, it is also possible to obtain beef.
Selling meat, like milk, is a profitable business

After choosing a direction comes the turn of organizational issues. To carry out such activities, it is necessary to register the enterprise. Business in rural areas in this case has its own specifics. The most popular organizational forms are peasant farms and private household plots.

peasant farm – peasant farm – is an association of farmers carrying out joint agricultural activities and owning common property.

Private household plots – personal subsidiary farming is a simpler option. In this case, there is no need to even register with the tax office. The farm is run as a family farm. But there are also requirements for such activities. More details can be found in our.

Farm arrangement

Keeping 100 cows and calves with three bulls will require 2 premises, each measuring 70x20 meters with a walking area. Such a farm does not need heating in winter. But it is extremely important to maintain the humidity level - the room must be dry and draft-free.

Is automatic feed needed? If you plan to breed no more than 100 cows, then for such a small herd it is enough to feed manually. For 300 or more heads, mechanized feeding is carried out.

In general, catering is a serious issue for such a business. Feeding varies at different times of the year. In summer, the main part of the diet is fresh grass. In winter, cows eat pre-prepared hay, vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets), silage, and mixed feed.

Annual feed consumption per cow:

• Green mass – 10 tons
• Hay – 2 tons
• Straw – 1 ton
• Silo – 4 tons
• Root crops – 2.5 tons.

It is also very important to give cows 100 grams of salt per day to maintain normal acid-salt balance.

If all of the above has to be purchased, then 41 thousand rubles will be spent per year per cow. Therefore, it is very important that the farmer has a large plot of land that can be used as pasture and also for making hay.

Costs of starting a farm

It is better to start such a business by purchasing a small number of cows. As your business develops, you can always buy more cattle. At first, 10 cows are enough, a little later - another 10. As soon as a stable income appears, you can increase the number of animals.

The peasant farm business plan includes the following costs:

• Construction or repair of a farm - about 200 thousand rubles
• Buying 7 cows – about 300 thousand rubles
• Buying 3 head bulls – approximately 200 thousand rubles
• Registration of activities – 15-20 thousand.

Thus, it will take from 600 thousand to 1 million rubles to open a business.

How much can you earn?

The first mating of cows is carried out at the age of 1.5 years, and the gestation of calves lasts 285 days, then you should not rely on a quick return on business.

You will begin to receive real income only by the end of the first or even second year of operation of the farm.

One cow gives birth to 1 calf per year. Lactation lasts approximately 300 days. Therefore, in the first 2-3 months after calving, half of the milk will be used to fatten the calf.

1 cow produces 10 liters of milk per day. During the first three months of lactation, approximately 5 liters per day can be sold per cow. From 4 cows – 20 liters.

At the end of lactation, all 10 liters per day per cow will be used for sale.

The average cost of 1 liter of milk is approximately 60 rubles. Consequently, during the lactation period, one animal can earn 27 thousand rubles in 3 months. Multiply by the number of cows to get your total revenue. And this is only when selling milk. If you additionally engage in the production of sour cream, cottage cheese, butter and cream, your income will increase.

Calves can also be sold as young animals or fattened and slaughtered with subsequent sale of meat. Raising calves for meat will take about a year of fattening.

The average weight of a dairy cow at the age of 1 year is 300 kg, and a bull’s weight is up to 400 kg. At slaughter, the yield of beef is 50%. The cost of 1 kg of meat is 300 rubles. Thus, the proceeds from the sale of meat will be 45-60 thousand rubles.

Taking into account the low entry costs and government support, as well as the variety of earnings on a cattle farm (selling milk, young animals, meat), it is obvious that the cattle breeding business is a very profitable activity.

Leave your comments below if you would like to add anything to the article or ask a question.

Refers to agricultural activity.

Since ancient times it has brought great profits.

This industry is considered one of the most promising.

Even in ancient times, people raised livestock to provide for their families and to sell.

Of course, the sphere is large. The main thing here is to choose the right direction. And for this it is necessary to determine which direction is in demand in the region of residence.

But, even having decided on an animal, an entrepreneur should take into account that in order to open a business, he will have to have quite a bit of money that will have to be invested. If set up correctly, livestock farming as a business from scratch will quickly pay for itself.

In Russia, livestock farming is becoming increasingly popular not only among ordinary people, but also among entrepreneurs. This is due to some indicators:

• Our country has special programs that support farming. Entrepreneurs are provided with various subsidies and benefits, and are also given land for running a farming business.
• A noticeable increase in the cost of products, which provides greater profits.
• The product line obtained from this type of activity is always in demand. Entrepreneurs, as a rule, have their own distribution channels.
• Restrictions have now been introduced on the import of products from abroad into the market.
• A large number of directions. Introduction of new varieties, for example, ostrich breeding.
• Russian products inspire confidence and are therefore in demand.

Therefore, farming activity is considered profitable and shows great promise. It is growing rapidly and brings great profits. Just to organize it you will have to make a lot of effort and invest money. At the same time, profit can be made very soon.

How to start an activity

The first thing an entrepreneur needs to determine is what goal he will pursue when raising livestock. It is possible to combine several in one direction. Now there are many directions. For example, they breed:

• for the purpose of selling meat
• for milk production
• generalized method
• marketing of juveniles

Farming activities are affected by two types of factors: external and internal. The first include:

• degree of specialization
• security
• availability of productivity

External factors include:

• presence of demand
• economy
• policy

This type of activity is an integral part of the modern world. By abandoning it, you can return to primitive times. Therefore, livestock farming needs to be supported and developed. Only in this case will the entrepreneur succeed.

Before raising livestock, a beginner in the business should think about several questions:

• choice of direction
• business plan preparation
• registration of activities
• seeking help from the state
• purchase of livestock, feed and necessary equipment

Setting up this business correctly involves some difficulties. It is recommended to start in a more familiar direction. It is necessary to adhere to ideas that allow you to quickly recover costs. This will help you reach a new level of activity with greater profits.

Many farmers simultaneously purchase several types of livestock to determine which one will be more profitable and to their liking. After all, each region may have its own level of sales, connections with the needs of people.

Having studied in practice the technology of raising and feeding livestock on a small scale, you can proceed to a large scale. Simply because you need to learn from small things.

Possible areas of livestock farming

Before drawing up a business plan, an entrepreneur needs to carefully understand all sectors of livestock farming. This includes breeding:

• birds
• cows
• deer
• camels
• fur animals

Quite often, entrepreneurs are tormented by the question of livestock farming as a business from scratch, which is more profitable.

It is worth noting that the most profitable area is cow breeding.

Entrepreneurs engaged in such business provide the population not only with meat, but also with dairy products.

In addition, young individuals can be sold.

Of course, this direction is labor-intensive. After all, you will have to look for a barn, and for cows it should not be small.

Therefore, for many aspiring entrepreneurs, starting a business with something simpler is possible. Two more equally profitable industries are:

• pig farming
• poultry breeding

This is due to the fact that the resulting products are among the most in demand. But to achieve a good result, you need to spend a lot of effort and money.

A stable option would be a large farm with various specializations.

But creating such a business from scratch and right away is quite difficult.

And it will require a lot of investment.

If we consider the direction of cow breeding separately, then with a number of twenty heads one should not expect big profits.

It is necessary to constantly increase the number of animals, and then you can achieve excellent results. However, if you have no experience in this direction, it is better to start with a small amount. To begin with, it is enough to have five heads of cattle. This will make it possible to understand whether this direction is worth pursuing and whether it was chosen correctly.

The most profitable business

As mentioned above, cow breeding is considered the most profitable activity. This is connected, first of all, with providing people not only with meat, but also with dairy products. Before starting such a business, an entrepreneur needs to draw up a business plan. It should include:

• volumes that the farmer plans to receive
• expenses for the purchase of livestock, feed and equipment
• marketing advertising costs
• designation of sale price
• information about sales channels
• employee salary expenses
• costs for water, consecration and heat
• expenses for regular medical care of animals, usually related to vaccinations
• analysis of possible risk
• planned income
• business start-up costs
• taxes
• rent or cost of purchased premises

It is very important to determine the premises in advance. It should be located away from the city. Then you can get an environmentally friendly product.

It is important to determine the purpose of raising livestock:

• for sale of young animals
• for slaughter
• dairy production
• skin dressing
• production of meat products

Once a business plan has been drawn up and premises have been found, you can begin to formalize your activities. To do this, you will have to obtain a number of permits and collect the necessary documentation.

A dairy cow must have:

• barrel belly
• small horns
• good muscles
• elastic udder

A narrow butt and a sagging back can be considered disadvantages.

Be sure to check the documents before purchasing livestock.

Must be vaccinated.

The cattle must first be provided with feed.

Ideally, there should be good pasture nearby.

It is imperative to disinfect the barn and vaccinate the cattle. It is imperative to provide additional space for the slaughterhouse.

Beef is an expensive and high-quality meat. It is in high demand. In order to get more profit, farmers buy livestock of different breeds. This helps to make a profit not only from meat, but also from milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese and the like.

What is more profitable for the purpose of selling

Let's take a closer look at how profitable each area of ​​livestock farming is:

• Raising rabbits does not involve large investments and hassle. People who have not previously engaged in livestock farming are recommended to start a business with this type of activity. The main advantage of these animals is their early maturity. Within a month, their weight increases twelvefold. By purchasing five females, you can annually receive two hundred skins and about three hundred kilograms of meat.
• Breeding nutria, if the business is set up correctly, can lead to good profits. After all, one carcass of this animal costs twenty-five conventional units. With proper organization of activities, one family will bring in up to twenty thousand rubles per month. To get good skins, they must be kept for at least nine months.
• Quite often people get scammed. You can get fluff and healthy milk from this animal. For beginners in the field of livestock farming, this is quite a profitable business.
• When breeding turkeys, it is worth considering that they are difficult to maintain. But after ten months such a business pays off. By this time the bird weighs about twenty-five kilograms. The demand for it is very good, so there are no problems with implementation.
• Pigs are classified as precocious livestock. If you provide them with good care, at the age of six months the animal reaches one hundred kilograms of weight. One female can give birth to two offspring per year. Therefore, in addition to meat, you can trade young animals. Little piglets don't come cheap.
• Beef has always been and will be in price. Therefore, raising this animal for sale can easily be called one of the most profitable. With proper nutrition and care, this cattle gains weight of up to three hundred and fifty kilograms in a year and a half.

Due to the fact that the main types of livestock products are always in demand, problems with their sale usually do not arise. Entrepreneurs can sell products on the market or rent them out to small retail outlets.

As for large farms, they enter into deals with retail chains, as well as enterprises that process products. Some farmers additionally set up their own production facilities for processing products, which helps increase profitability from their activities.

What is needed for a successful business

Every beginning farmer must understand that this type of business does not allow you to generate income instantly.

Livestock farming is one of the most risky activities.

Since there is always a possibility of diseases or natural disasters that contribute to losses and lead to bankruptcy.

Plus, it takes time to make a profit.

Don't forget, production is only the initial stage of business. The second includes successful implementation. Some farmers find permanent distribution channels.

Some of them open their own sales points. With the latter option you can make a big profit. This is expressed in the difference in prices between products sold wholesale and retail. But when deciding to sell food yourself, you need to take into account the costs associated with rent, equipment and staff salaries.

How to organize profitable livestock farming as a business from scratch video:

The main guarantee of any business is the constant control and presence of the manager. An entrepreneur who independently carries out all stages of activity is likely to receive more income than one who entrusts management to strangers.

But, with large volumes, it is impossible for one person to do everything and in any case you will have to hire people. However, the whole process should not be left to chance. There must be control in any business.

Currently, farms in our country receive assistance from the state. This is due to the goal of supporting Russian production. Livestock farming requires a large investment of money, time and effort, but it is worth it. A person who started and set up a business correctly will very soon make a good profit. After all, food products from this type of activity have always been and will be in demand.

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Cattle breeding is an industry that has always been very widespread in our country, providing employment to almost the majority of the population in rural areas. Unfortunately, in recent years, livestock farming has become far less attractive. We will try to prove that beef cattle breeding, the business plan of which will be discussed in the article, is a profitable business.

Foreign experts believe that for the manager of a farm to have at least some interest in its development, profitability should be at least 25%. However, after 2008 the situation in our livestock farming became somewhat better, which is due to the introduction of a program to support domestic producers. One of its points is to support farmers who restore abandoned livestock buildings.

It is not surprising that every year this industry begins to attract not only domestic but also foreign investors. However, many problems are quite relevant to this day. The lack of normal support from the mechanical engineering industry hits manufacturers especially hard. This leads to an extreme degree of deterioration of fixed production assets.

Meat and dairy cattle breeds

If you ask the same American or European what kind of meat he mainly eats, he will probably tell you about beef. In our country, it is mainly old and sick dairy cows that are sent for meat. As a result, beef cattle breeding (a business plan for which is not so difficult to draw up) is in disgrace in our country.

As a result, consumers in our country have a completely erroneous opinion that beef is second-class meat. This is due to the fact that meat products are obtained from culled dairy cattle.

The taste characteristics of such meat are extremely low. It is difficult to heat treat, too hard, and is also poorly absorbed by the human body. So the prospects for the development of cattle breeding in order to produce high-quality and tasty products in Russia are very high.

It follows from this that if you want to engage in beef cattle breeding, you will have to purchase specialized breeds of cattle, which are distinguished by their early maturity and high slaughter yield.

Accordingly, to obtain a large amount of milk you will have to look for purebred dairy cows. Remember that there are no universal breeds. We will consider mainly beef cattle breeding. A business plan for a milk production enterprise is much more difficult to draw up, and it takes a lot of money.

Characteristics and composition of cattle meat

Its composition depends not only on age and gender, but also on the breed of livestock. Thus, the amount of actual muscle tissue in the carcass ranges from 42 to 68%, fat there is from 9 to 30%, the amount of bone tissue can reach 20%. The tenderness of meat depends on the amount of connective tissue fascia in the muscles. As you can guess, in meat animals this figure is minimal, while in dairy animals there can be up to 15% connective tissue in the muscle.

In the best and most expensive meat products, the ratio of protein and fat is 1:1-1:0.7 (protein - 21%, fat - 18%).

The amount of muscle mass obtained during fattening depends on many factors. So, in Limousines (a French breed of cattle) and Charolais, the carcass can contain up to 65% pure meat! Thus, beef cattle farming, the business plan for which we are considering, can be extremely profitable.

Characteristics of milk

In specialized breeds, the fat content in milk can exceed 5.5% (Jersey cows). The products contain a lot of protein, micro- and macroelements, as well as vitamins. It is much more profitable to produce cheeses and butter from this raw material, since much less is consumed.

A little about feeding beef cattle

You need to know that fattening beef bulls' feed must contain at least 75% plant products, while the specific amount of concentrates cannot exceed 25%. Otherwise, the level of fat in the meat increases sharply, and its taste is greatly deteriorated.

The sex of animals also greatly influences the efficiency and speed of fattening. For example, by the age of 18 months, castrated bulls overtake heifers in weight by 20%, and their “courageous” brothers by 10%.

Do you think you don't need to know all these numbers? In vain, since all this must be taken into account when organizing fattening and recruiting the herd. Only if you take into account all the little things will beef cattle breeding bring you tangible profits.

After all of the above, we can conclude that we are most interested in the meat productivity of livestock. It is assessed by growth rate, meat yield and feed costs per kilogram of final product.

Fattening methods

As for maintenance, there are tethered and free growing methods. In recent years, the free-breeding method has become extremely popular, in which animals are kept in fenced pens on deep litter, which changes only after the next batch of animals is sent for slaughter or another stage of fattening. This makes beef cattle breeding very profitable from the point of view of minimizing labor costs.

Calves are rarely kept on a leash: in this case, not only a specialized room with automated manure removal is required, but also fairly reliable leashes. In addition, each animal has to be unhooked and hitched manually, which is very labor-intensive and dangerous.

The advantage of the method is an individual approach to livestock, as well as a 100% guarantee of the reliability of veterinary treatments. There is no need to spend a lot of time corralling animals, and they receive an order of magnitude less stress with the injection method of administering vaccines or vitamins.

Dairy Cattle Management Methods

In general, they are exactly the same. The stereotype that a dairy farm is necessarily a tethered environment has become firmly entrenched in the public consciousness. But in recent years, the loose-leash option has been used much more often. Despite some inconveniences (which we discussed above), it ensures high productivity and better physical condition of animals. Thus, beef and dairy farming are quite similar in many aspects.

What determines the cost of feeding livestock?

The biggest expense is on feed. If, when receiving milk, up to 50-60% is spent on them, then in beef cattle breeding they have to spend at least 70% of the funds that were allocated at the stage of writing the business plan.

Many farms find themselves in a situation where the cost of hay and root crops is constantly rising. Naturally, this also increases the cost of the resulting beef.

It is not surprising that in terms of meat exports we are head and shoulders behind Argentina or Brazil: there livestock is kept on pastures all year round, which reduces the total costs of raising and fattening them by 30%.

In addition, there is no point in even comparing climatic conditions. In general, modern cattle breeding in developed countries is completely subsidized and is supported by the state at all levels.

Premises requirements

All premises in which you plan to keep fattening cattle or dairy cows must meet the requirements for livestock complexes. Location – at least a kilometer from residential buildings. Farms are required to be equipped with manure removal systems and slurry storage facilities. There must be a place on site for burning dead animals. Each building requires access for transport.

What equipment do you need to purchase?

It all depends on the direction of your business. In this regard, we strongly advise you to engage in beef cattle breeding at first, since the costs will be much lower. Judge for yourself.

For the feeding complex, you will have to purchase manure removal systems, lighting fixtures, and iron for the construction of pens. Feeders and drinkers will also be required. The total costs are unlikely to exceed three to four million rubles.

But in the case of dairy farms, you need to buy equipment for milking, milk lines, tanks for cooling and mixing milk.

Conclude agreements with manufacturers for the maintenance of all equipment. In addition, the same transporters for manure, drinking bowls and feeders are needed. So organizing livestock breeding of this kind will easily “eat up” 40-50 million rubles.

Staff

General workers, livestock specialists and veterinarians, machine operators and animal feeding specialists will be needed. Their wage costs depend on your region and its wage index.

What documents will be required?

Oddly enough, their list is relatively modest:

• Passport.
• Application to the administration of the Moscow Region for the opening of a fattening shop.
• Certificate of registration of individual entrepreneur or LLC.
• Permission from the local architectural department.
• Fully completed business plan.
• Permission from the SES, fire inspection and Rospotrebnadzor.
• Permission from the Moscow Region administration.

So is it profitable to engage in cattle breeding? Definitely yes!

The potential for the development of beef cattle breeding in Russia is significant, which means breeding beef cattle is a profitable and very promising business. It is possible to organize a cattle breeding business, the main focus of which will be the breeding of cows, provided that the breed is correctly selected and organizational costs are calculated.

Meat is a strategic product for Russia, since it occupies a significant part of the diet of our compatriots. Every year, the average Russian eats at least 60 kg of meat and meat products, which is generally not much compared to the countries of Western Europe and North America. However, beef accounts for only about 15% of this volume (that is, approximately 9 kg), which is also significantly less than in other economically developed countries. Thus, the potential for development of the industry is quite large, but there are also a number of problems.

The state of beef cattle breeding in Russia

According to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, after many years of shortages in domestic production in the meat industry, by 2016 it was finally possible to reach the food security threshold for meat. In general, the country provides itself with this type of product by 89%. However, such indicators are valid only for pork and poultry meat, with which Russia was able to provide itself at the minimum required level. But in terms of beef production volumes, the domestic cattle breeding industry is still lagging behind target indicators. At the moment, the country produces only about 75% of what is needed.

According to statistics, in 2015, Russian farmers produced 269.1 thousand tons of beef (including by-products), which is 16.3% more than in 2014. The increase in production volumes became possible thanks to the launch of new and modernization/reconstruction of existing cattle breeding complexes with a total of 107 units. Collectively, these enterprises produced an additional 46.2 thousand tons of meat (live weight). The main producers of beef are the Siberian (28%), Central (27%) and Volga (20%) federal districts.

Problems of beef cattle breeding in Russia

Beef cattle farming in general faces the same problems as its related dairy farming. And first of all, this is the relatively low profitability of production. While pork and poultry contribute 20% and 17% respectively, beef contributes only about 7-10%. With such profitability indicators, investors are much more willing to invest in pig and poultry farming than in breeding cows for meat.

The second problem that hinders the development of the industry is the situation on the market for breeding young animals. According to experts, today domestic breeding plants are simply not able to meet domestic demand for their products. For example, in the European part of Russia you can purchase no more than 500 heads of breeding cattle per month, in the Asian part up to 100 heads per month. At the same time, to launch new cattle breeding farms or expand existing ones, it is necessary to simultaneously purchase cattle in the thousands. As a result, pastoralists are forced to import animals from abroad at much higher prices, which significantly delays the return on investment.

Finally, the macroeconomic difficulties (inflation and devaluation) that Russia has faced in the last two years have had an impact (not for the better) on the cost of construction materials and equipment needed to expand or start up livestock complexes from scratch. Moreover, all this is happening in the context of a continuing decline in demand for beef on the domestic market. And although after the ban on the import of food products from most European countries, a fairly large gap has formed on the market between supply and demand, it is rapidly shrinking.

Meat breeds of cattle

Beef cows are distinguished by faster rates of development and high precocity with intensive fattening. As a rule, they are larger in size, stop growing earlier and produce higher-calorie meat with minimal fat content. At the same time, the average milk yield of meat breeds is several times lower than that of dairy and meat and dairy breeds.

In Russia the most popular breeds are:

Beef cattle farming as a business

In general, we can safely say that today beef cattle breeding is the most problematic segment of domestic livestock farming. In any case, if we take into account only strategically important sectors. Production is growing at a much slower pace than, for example, in pig farming or poultry farming, and unlike dairy farming, there are no such generous subsidies from the state for production. However, raising beef cows has one important advantage over the dairy industry - a simpler production cycle, much lower feed requirements and no need for complex farm equipment.

For beef cattle breeding to become a truly profitable business, livestock breeding should only be done in areas where there are many natural pastures on which livestock can be freely grazed in the warm season, with almost no expense spent on feed. If most of the calories consumed by animals are purchased feed, such beef will turn out just golden - its cost will eat up all the profit or even bring losses. That is why the main beef producers in Russia are regions with a relatively low rural population density.

However, it is impossible to create a cattle breeding business on pastures alone. At a minimum, in the cold season, the animals will have to be fed with something, and it is better if it is not purchased food, but produced on their own. As you know, cattle can eat hay, silage and some fodder vegetables. Thus, livestock farming will have to acquire its own arable land for growing forage grasses. According to statistics, on average one cow and one calf require about a hectare of pasture land and the same amount of arable land. Thus, a small farm with 100 mother cows will need at least two hundred hectares of land (pastures + arable land).

It is important to note that one of the tricks that can significantly increase the profitability of a cattle breeding farm is to obtain the status of a breeding plant. This status gives the right to government subsidies for raising breeding cows. Having completed all the formalities associated with certification, you can apply for financial support from the state.

Organizing a cattle breeding business

To create a farm for one hundred cows (plus the same number of their calves) and three breeding bulls, you will have to build two standard cowsheds measuring 70x20 meters. You will also need a walking area, silos and towers.

Properly constructed barns do not require a heating system, since even in winter the heat from the animals themselves is enough to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room. However, buildings must be equipped with a good ventilation system to effectively combat high humidity without creating drafts.

Very often, small farms (up to 300 animals) use mainly manual labor. However, today there is technology that allows you to mechanize and automate even such enterprises. The most labor-intensive operations are distributing feed and removing manure. They should be mechanized first.

There is no point in describing the process of preparing feed for the winter, since this relates more to crop production than to livestock production. We only note that by the beginning of winter, the reserves should have 130% of the required feed. According to statistics, up to 20% of feed usually spoils during storage, plus the possibility of increased consumption during severe frosts should be taken into account.

Since calves will not be born until the second year of the farm's existence, construction of a second barn can be delayed until then. Of course, from the second year, feed costs double. To ensure that calves are fed as much as possible of the free grass on pasture, calving should be scheduled between February and April. Then the calves will spend most of their time grazing rather than eating hay and silage.