Small suckler beef herd on rented grazing

Other farmers who buy store cattle, livestock dealers, livestock markets and abattoirs.

You sell calves or finished cattle, usually once or twice a year, so income arrives in lumps. The margin is what you get per animal minus rent, feed, vet costs and transport. With a small herd, sales are modest and may barely cover costs in a poor year.

• Calm, confident cattle handling
• Basic animal health and calving knowledge
• Record keeping and planning through the seasons

• You will likely need a holding number and must follow cattle identification, passport and movement reporting rules, so check with the relevant agency for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• Bovine TB testing and movement restrictions can stop you selling animals, so check the local TB status of the area
• Short grazing agreements can end with little notice, so check the terms and whether a tenancy would be safer
• Check insurance for livestock, public liability and any public footpaths crossing the land
• Check rules on medicine records, fencing, welfare and any planning permission needed for buildings
• Cattle prices and feed costs change, and vet bills or lost animals can wipe out a year's margin

Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the number of cows, fencing, handling equipment and the grazing you rent. These are estimates, so get quotes for stock, vet costs and insurance before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £1,800, depending on how many calves you sell, when you sell them and at what price. Cattle prices and feed costs change, and vet bills or lost animals can wipe out a year's margin.

Check whether you need a holding number and how cattle identification, passport and movement reporting rules apply, via the agency for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Also check local bovine TB status, grazing agreement terms and insurance cover.