Costs of running a business to raise bull calves for meat at home and is it profitable?

The business of raising bulls for meat seems unpromising to beginning farmers. Keeping animals requires significant financial costs, free time and physical effort. An assessment of profitability and payback periods shows that your own business will bring profit. It is important to properly organize the process, assess the risks and the possibility of selling products.

Where to start this business?

Entrepreneurial activity is built according to certain rules. Climatic conditions and the availability of space for animals to walk are taken into account. It is impossible to keep a herd of bulls in the city. To start your business from scratch, you need to build cattle pen, create comfortable conditions for animals. The construction of a barn and the purchase of young animals will require most of the financial resources. Experts consider a starting capital of half a million rubles optimal. The amount is enough to purchase 10 bulls and set up a farm.

Business Features:

1. Wide meat market.
2. The ability to run a business without expensive equipment and high rent.
3. Full control of all processes.
4. Earning additional income from selling animal skins and even manure.

To raise bulls, it is also important to calculate the amount of feed and obtain veterinary assistance.

Is it profitable?

All costs of breeding bulls for meat, as well as projected income, are reflected in the business plan. In the document, the aspiring entrepreneur takes into account all the costs of starting his own business:

1. Rent or purchase of land and pastures for walking animals.
2. Construction of a pen for keeping livestock and utility rooms, including the cost of consumables and services.
3. Funds for the purchase of bulls.
4. Purchase of feed.
5. Attracting hired workers, organizing veterinary examinations of animals.

The economic part of the plan reflects the receipt of funds from the sale of meat and third-party goods, calculates the profitability and payback period of the project, profit and taxes. The analytical section contains a comparison of indicators, a strategy for reducing costs and increasing income.And in the investment part, they determine the possibility of receiving grants and the need to attract additional investments. A loan is taken out if the projected profit exceeds the amount of payments to repay the loan.

Requirements for the place where bulls are kept

When constructing a farm, the weather conditions of the region are taken into account. In cold climates, calves are kept indoors. This system is also suitable for small farms. Animals spend all their time in stalls, with the exception of walks near the barn. Bulls kept in a pen quickly gain weight, but become aggressive.

When kept free-range, young animals recover more slowly. But walking strengthens the animals' immunity. First, the area is inspected and cleared of poisonous plants, sharp stones and other objects that can injure the herd are removed.

The choice of site is of great importance. The flora of wetlands is not suitable. Plants do not contain microelements useful for bulls. Flies and ticks are dangerous for animals that graze in forest areas. For walking they use steppe or mountain areas rich in cereals, legumes and herbs.

Building arrangement

When constructing a barn, provide up to 10 square meters (taking into account the organization of space for storing feed) for the maintenance of one animal. Basic requirements for building construction:

1. Possibility of connection to sources of electricity and water supply.
2. The distance of the pen from residential buildings must be at least 30 meters.
3. The building is insulated and provided with a ventilation system.
4. Natural materials are used in construction.
5. Design large windows for natural light during the day.
6. A place for storing hay is being built in the attic.
7. If you plan to keep 10 or more bulls, it is advisable to install automatic feeders and water supply systems.

When kept at home, animals should not experience discomfort. The bulls are clean, so the pen is cleaned regularly. The air temperature in the room should not fall below 8 degrees. The space inside the building must be free so that animals can turn around and reach the feeder. The stalls are separated by strong railings on which chains are secured.

Animal selection

The choice of bulls is approached responsibly. The health of the animal and pedigree are of great importance.

Purchasing young stock

Bulls are purchased from farms that specialize in raising breeding animals. The following indicators are taken into account:

1. Determine whether the animal's weight meets the standards specific to the breed.
2. They examine the body and check for possible damage.
3. Maternal productivity indicators and father's weight are studied.

Experienced farmers advise giving preference to one and a half year old bulls. At this age, calves have already received preventive vaccinations, and the animals have switched to independent feeding.

Popular breeds

The business of raising livestock for meat involves the use of bull calves that quickly gain weight. At the time of slaughter, animals must have their maximum weight. Making a profit directly depends on this indicator. The best beef bulls:

Before purchasing, find out which breeds can take root in the region where the farm is located. Some animals are adapted to cold climates, others were bred in the hot south.The conditions for keeping bulls are different.

What to feed bulls raised for meat

Balanced feeding promotes rapid weight gain in bulls. The diet is especially carefully selected to achieve the effect of marbled meat. In some cases, they even order individual nutrition plans for each breed of animal.

If the financial plan does not provide for additional costs to attract such specialists, then general recommendations are used.

The diet of bulls depends on the season:

1. In the warm season, cattle feed on pasture. Additionally, animals receive concentrates.
2. In winter, greens are replaced with hay, vegetables, combined feed and vitamin complexes are added.

In summer, the herd spends a lot of time on pasture. Bull calves under 6 months of age are not allowed to roam. An excess of fresh vegetation will cause gas formation and provoke a dangerous disease - tympany. The disease often ends in the death of animals.

Newborn calves are fed mother's milk, gradually introducing cereals and protein-rich foods into the diet. After 6 months, the bull begins to eat fresh and dried grass, increasing the volume of consumption every day. Enzymes are added to food. The measure is aimed at breaking down roughage, which contributes to a faster gain of live body weight.

Fattening for meat begins when the weight of animals reaches 300 kilograms. The bulls are placed in separate stalls and the walking time is reduced. Animals are sent to slaughter at the age of 1.5 years.

Breeding rules

If an entrepreneur plans to breed offspring on a farm, they buy cows for mating. For breeding cattle, natural fertilization and artificial insemination are used. The latter method is considered more cost-effective.Conception is planned in such a way that offspring are born in early spring. In the summer, the calves will move to free grazing; feeding will not require additional costs.

Producers are kept on their own farm or take the cow to another farm for mating. Per year breeding bulls cover up to 50 cows. Crossbreeding of animals of different breeds leads to crossbreeding, which affects changes in productivity indicators.

Is registration necessary?

The business of breeding bulls for meat provides for 3 forms of enterprise registration:

1. When keeping a small number of animals on a mini-farm (land of up to 2 hectares), a certificate from the local government is sufficient. Owners of personal subsidiary plots are exempt from paying contributions to the budget.
2. Individual entrepreneurs submit an application to the Federal Tax Service for registration. Livestock breeders use the single agricultural tax. The contribution rate is 6%.
3. The procedure for registering a peasant farm is similar to registering an individual entrepreneur.

The action plan must include an item on obtaining certificates for meat. The conclusion of the sanitary and epidemiological station is necessary for the sale of goods. Without documents certifying the quality of the products, supermarkets or restaurants will not buy beef. Confirmation will also be required to sell meat in markets.

Staff Recruitment

A farmer can maintain a small herd of up to 10 bulls on his own. Numerous livestock require increased attention. 2-3 hired employees will help feed the bulls, turn them out to pasture and clean the barn. During the slaughter period, temporary workers are hired.

A separate expense item provides for veterinary care for bulls. In large farms, the position of a doctor is included in the staffing table.At mini-farms, on-site visits to inspect animals are agreed upon.

Calculation of profit and payback period of the project

Breeding bulls for meat will bring profit if you do not exceed current costs. At the first stage of business, funds will be required:

1. For the purchase of a plot, construction or rental of premises for animals.
2. Purchasing animals.
3. Purchase of feed.
4. Salary to employees.

Taking into account all the points, the initial total costs for purchasing 20 bulls will be 500 thousand rubles. Costs for keeping animals, veterinary examinations and other unforeseen expenses will add another 65 thousand each month.

If you purchase bull calves at the age of six months, the holding time until slaughter will be 10 months. During this period, the farmer will spend another 650 thousand rubles. To determine profitability, income from product sales is calculated. The average weight of a fattened animal is 700 kilograms. Meat yield – 65%. Even at wholesale prices, which are significantly lower than market prices, the farmer will receive about 1 million rubles from the sale of meat.

If you consider that in the second year you will not have to spend money on arranging a pen for animals and equipment, then the costs will pay off in just 2 years. And the strategy of selling meat to large shopping centers and restaurants will significantly increase profits. The benefit is obvious.

For farmers who are familiar with the specifics of cattle breeding, starting a business raising bulls for meat will be a successful project. Considering the demand for products, such activities have good development prospects.