Beef cattle are generally the most profitable and easiest livestock to raise for profit. Beef cattle simply require good pasture, supplemental hay during the winter, fresh water, vaccinations and plenty of room to roam. You can buy calves from dairy farms inexpensively to start raising beef cattle.

How much do cattle farmers make a year?

At the national level, farm cash income for livestock farms increased by around $32,000 to average $123,000 per farm in 2020–21. This estimate is around 14% above the longer-term average of $108,300 per farm in real terms for the 10 years to 2019–20.

Do cattle farmers make good money?

According to the BLS, farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers earn a median annual wage of $69,620 or $33.47 per hour -- meaning that half make more and half make less, as of May 2017. Those in the bottom 10 percent of wage earners make around $35,360 while those in the top 10 percent earn over $135,900.