Beef cattle on rented land

Livestock markets, abattoirs and meat processors, and sometimes other farmers buying store cattle.

Selling cattle by weight or per head for more than you paid and spent on feed, vet care and rent. Sales come in a few large payments, so monthly figures are an average.

• Experience handling cattle safely
• Buying and selling stock at market
• Budgeting and cash-flow planning
• Basic animal health knowledge

• Cattle need a holding number, passports and movement reporting, and bovine TB testing rules vary by area, so check with the authorities where you farm
• Cattle can be dangerous, so proper handling facilities and training matter
• Margins can be thin and prices move, so work out your break-even before buying
• Insurance for livestock, public liability and any vehicles or trailers
• Support payment schemes change from time to time, so check what is currently available and do not rely on them

Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £50,000, depending on how many cattle you buy, the handling facilities you need and your rented land. These are estimates, and margins can be thin, so work out your break-even first.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on stock numbers, feed costs and sale prices. Prices move, so check your break-even before buying and do not rely on support payment schemes.

Check that cattle need a holding number, passports and movement reporting, and that bovine TB testing rules vary by area. Also check livestock, public liability and vehicle or trailer insurance, and make sure you have proper handling facilities.