Younger calves should be in stronger, non-electrified enclosures and as they get older can be moved into more flexible configurations. I would suggest using common sense when choosing fencing. I have had calves in all kinds enclosures depending on their age and the area in which I want them kept. Here at Painted Hand Farm, my fencing runs the gauntlet from fortified quarter-inch hardware cloth, pre-fabricated feedlot panels, Red Brand SafeGuard, six-wire high tensile, portable electrified netting and portable step-in fiberglass posts for IntelliRope hotwire. Good fencing, regardless of permanent or temporary will be your biggest return on investment. I just want to preface this section with the advice that regardless of the type of fencing system you use, this is not an area in which you want to skimp, go cheap or used (if you can help it) or do a half-assed job.

Whether or not you own your land will most likely determine the type of fencing installed. With the advocacy of leasing land, the minimal infrastructure required makes veal production ideal for anyone not wanting to make expensive capital investments on land they do not own. As with poultry, prior to the arrival of the livestock there must be some type of infrastructure in place. Even if you have access to both, the time and labor required to start any agricultural-based venture can take years to develop herds, pastures and soil fertility.įor small-scale ventures, I’ve found that the investment needed to start raising veal calves is quite similar to that of pastured poultry.

Equipment and infrastructure is costly, including when purchased as used. Fortunately, today there are more programs and paradigms designed to fund first-time farmers who aren’t following in their family footsteps and inheriting a functioning farm or even fallow land. Let’s face it, just like any other business, getting starting with farming involves capital expenditures. Did you miss the first in the series? Click to see it!

Raising a bull calf