Ranching isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life. Success in ranching requires absolute commitment and a lot of hard work. In addition, you need to adopt good practices and obtain the right tools. Ranch life isn’t for everyone, but if you think you have the necessary blend of devotion and gumption, here is some important information about the essentials.
Practices
Ranching is not only hard work, it is also dangerous. Accidents can and do happen. You, your family, employees, or visitors may get hurt as a result. To protect yourself from liability, it is important that you obtain ranch insurance.
It may seem obvious, but it is crucially important to take care of your livestock. That is the product from which you obtain your livelihood, and you get out of your animals what you put into them. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that your cattle get enough water to drink and sufficient nutrition at all times of the year. It is also essential that your cattle get proper medical care, so find a capable veterinarian and build a relationship with him or her.
Most of all, as someone who works off the land, it is important for you to be a good steward of the environment. This means sustaining natural resources that you, your livestock, and your neighbors depend on, including water and topsoil.
Tools
Ranch work requires tools both big and small. You will occasionally have to make repairs around your property, so you should have a good supply of appropriate hand tools:
- Wire cutters
- Claw hammer
- Pliers
- Screwdriver set
- Adjustable wrenches
- 25- to 100-foot tape measure
Even if you own a small ranch, it represents a significant area of land. The most efficient way to get around your property may be in a pickup truck. You will occasionally have to transport animals from one place to another, so a livestock trailer is another essential.
There are many advantages to the purchase of a manure spreader. It helps to prevent contamination of the groundwater by runoff, which is an important aspect of environmental stewardship. It also helps to decrease the number of flies that would otherwise bother your livestock and improves the fertility of the soil, helping to ensure that your cattle always have enough to eat.
Ranching is a rewarding vocation, but it is not something to enter into lightly. Educate yourself thoroughly first on the tools you need and the best practices to adopt.
