Purchasing a cattle ranch in Kansas is a pretty significant investment. There are multiple things to consider before you buy the ranch. Anyone looking for a Kansas cattle ranch for sale will have multiple questions in mind about the investment and land maintenance. One of the most common questions asked is how much land is needed for the cattle ranch.
Things To Check To Determine How Much Land Is Needed For Your Ranch
People often worry about the investment that will be required to purchase a cattle ranch. You must determine how much land you will need before making the purchase. Here are some things to check before deciding on the size of the land.
- How many animals do you want to raise?
- Will your livestock be 100% grass-fed, grain-fed, or a combination of both?
- Are they raised for meat or milk?
- How many animal types will be raised on the ranch?
- What is the quality of pasture?
- Will the animals be raised for personal use or commercial purposes?
Once you answer all of the questions above, you should be able to determine how much land you need for your ranch. Usually, one animal unit includes a 1,000 lb cow with a six-month-old calf. With that information top of mind, on average, cows graze at around 75-80% of the ranch per month. And while the calves will not graze much, they will need to feed on milk(their mothers’ or otherwise), meaning the cows have to be well-fed if they will produce enough milk as a product and for the calves. Keeping this in mind, you should be able to keep two to four cows on a 5-acre cattle ranch if you want to ensure your cattle are well-fed, comfortable, and healthy.
Other Considerations With Regards To Ranch Maintenance
While determining how much land is needed for your cattle ranch is one thing, there are other things that you need to consider before purchasing the land. One of them is cattle ranch maintenance. A well-maintained ranch will ensure good cattle health and yield. Here are some tips on cattle ranch maintenance.
Build A Routine
Set aside time daily or weekly to visit your ranch. Keep a regular time for maintenance and cleanup. If you have employees on your ranch, you can delegate different maintenance tasks to different employees.
Check The Water Supply For Your Cattle Daily
Clean and check your water resources every day. Regularly cleaned water resources like tubs and tanks will prevent the breeding of insects and infections and improve your cattle’s water consumption. Ensure that badgers, deer, and other wild animals don’t come near your water sources as they can spread infections and diseases.
Check Your Fence
Walk fence lines and conduct regular repair and maintenance. Keep essential fence repair equipment handy so that you can do spot checks and repair any problems immediately.
Check Cattle Gates
Your cattle gates will help you keep your cattle on the ranch. Ensure you check the gates regularly. Check the latches to make sure they work well.
Reduce Clutter
Clutter will only make it difficult for you to work on your ranch. Get rid of anything that you feel is of no use to you. Throw away broken items, old chunks of metal, and equipment that you don’t use anymore. This will also give your animals more free space to walk around.
Mow The Land Regularly
Mow areas where your cattle don’t graze. Remove any weeds that grow in your pasture. Trim the trees and weeds along fences to prevent any damage from falling weeds and limbs.
Soil And Water Maintenance
Conduct regular maintenance of the soil and water. Fence the cattle from the streams to prevent erosion and contamination. Grow cover crops on the barren areas, and reseed pastures if required.
Regular Maintenance Of Ranch Equipment And Vehicles
Perform routine checks of your ranch equipment and vehicles. This will improve its longevity. Keep track of all the maintenance conducted by documenting any repairs or checks. Proactive maintenance will help you identify any niggling issues in your equipment and address them before they become a big problem.
Regular Removal Of Manure
Manure will attract insects and flies. It can also cause the area to become slippery and can erode expensive ranch equipment over time. Regularly remove waste from your barns, cattle chutes, trailers, and other equipment.
Mirr Ranch Group offers land for sale and can help you determine how much land you will need for your cattle ranch. Contact us to buy a cattle ranch in a location of your choice.
