Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Humans domesticated cattle in the early Neolithic period, and they have been one of the most
useful of all animals. They have been worshipped in religious ceremonies and are still sacred
to Hindus. They have been raised for their beef, for milk and dairy products, for their leather
hides, used as draft animals, or animals used to pull things such as wagons or plows, and used
in sports such as bullfighting. The Minoans on the island of Crete used them in games, dating
around the 14th century B.C., where young men would leap over bulls. Cattle were one of the
earliest forms of human wealth. Today, cattle are raised primarily for beef and dairy products
in the U.S.
There were originally three distinct species of cattle: Bos taurus, found in Europe, with simil-
ar bovine types in Africa and Asia; Bos indicus, or the zebu; and Bos primigenius, or the
aurochs. The aurochs is the bovine ancestor of both the Bos taurus and the Bos indicus.
Today, cattle are recognized as one species, and these animals are considered subspecies.
Raising Cattle
Some people are satisfied growing just enough meat or milk to provide for themselves and
their families. They enjoy the process of working with nature and like the idea of knowing
where their food comes from. If this is you, then you will not need much to get your operation
going: a few acres, a small number of animals, fencing, and some key herd management
equipment.
However, most farmers want to sell to other people for profit. Many depend on farm income
for their livelihood or for supplemental income. Depending on the type of animal you buy and
its age and condition at the time of sale, buying an animal for your herd will cost a few hun-
dred dollars and maybe as much as a couple thousand dollars. It can take a couple of years to
ready a beef animal for slaughter or for a cow to produce enough milk to pay for your invest-
ment.
If you want to make money, you need to have an idea whom you are going to sell to. Decide
on your target market, and develop a plan for getting your product in their hands. Do you
know where to make the connections necessary to sell directly to customers? Are there farm-
ers markets or other groups in place to help farmers find customers? Is there a restaurant or
grocery in town that might buy your products?
What Kind of Farm Will You Have?
