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Farmers run farms to produce livestock for meat, milk, and fiber. They oversee breeding, grazing, and crop management, and may also sell animal products. Ranching is often a family business and can be found in countries like the US, Australia, and Brazil.
A farmer runs a farm, a large facility dedicated to producing livestock for milk, fiber or meat. Farmers often own their farms and are supported by a large team, which may include family members who work on the farm. Cattle ranching can be seen in parts of the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Brazil where large tracts of land are available for ranching.
The origins of animal husbandry seem to lie in Spain, where people have raised cattle on the great plains for centuries. Cattle raising grew drastically with the installation of the New World, which opened up numerous spaces for cattle raising. Cattle and sheep are among the most common animals, and breeders can also breed horses and more exotic animals such as buffalo or emus.
The farmer oversees farm operations, deciding which animals to raise, making breeding decisions, and rotating material across the land to avoid overgrazing. Farmers also negotiate leases of neighboring land that can be used to graze, hire and fire staff who work on the farm, and oversee farm maintenance, from fencing to confirming that fences are sound to keeping outbuildings in good condition.
In addition to breeding stock, a farmer may also purchase stock, with some farmers focusing on buying and stocking young animals. The rancher can also use artificial insemination to bring new strains into the herd or sell semen from the herd so that other ranchers can access the ranch’s strains. Ranchers are also responsible for organizing the sale of the animal products they produce, whether they are selling cattle to slaughterhouses or selling wool at the farmers’ market.
Many farmers also grow hay and grain on their farms to sustain their livestock nutritionally and to avoid buying feed. Raising feed requires managing the land where feed is grown, sowing seeds at the appropriate time, and maintaining the crop until it is ready for harvest. The farmer is also involved in the health care of the herd, keeping the animals healthy and seeking veterinary care when appropriate.
Farmers typically live on site in a farmhouse, and the farm may also include housing for staff and family members. Ranching is often a family business as it is labor intensive and family members are a convenient source of work, although ranchers may also hire outsiders to supplement family workers.
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