Agricultural Careers

Beef Producer

By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Anna Burgess

Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office

Georgia Department of Education

June 2005

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What does a Beef Producer do?

•Raise a high quality, cost efficient herd of cattle.

•Attend livestock auctions, graded beef sales, and buying stations.

•Seek out and find best beef processor convenient to the location of the farm.

•Develop a good relationship with small packers and processors.

•Stay up to date with the market prices.

•Feed the herd proper nutrients.

•Artificially inseminate and breed cows at the scheduled times.

What kind of qualities and skills are needed?

A beef producer should be one who is:

•Sincerely interested in the beef industry

•Willing to make a long-term commitment

•Able to understand and learn the cattle business

•Willing to put in hard work and long hours

•Responsible and patient

•Able to maintain an organized and clean office and livestock facility

•Able to gain computer and record keeping skills

Education & Special Requirements

Completion of a 2-year degree and preferably a 4-year bachelor’s degree program in an area of agriculture, such as animal science, is becoming increasingly important.

But even after obtaining formal education, novices may need to spend time working under an experienced farmer to learn how to put into practice the skills learned through academic training. A small number of farms offer apprenticeships to help young people acquire such practical skills.

A special requirement for beef producers is participation in the Beef Checkoff Program. The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. 

What are the conditions of the work environment?

All work is done outdoors

Work in foul odors

Work in various weather conditions

Must perform hands-on work with the animals, this includes pulling calves and artificial insemination

Other Careers You Might Want to Explore

•Agricultural Education Teacher•Animal Scientist

•Artificial Inseminator•County Extension Agent

•Extension Specialist•Farm Manager

•Livestock Buyer/Broker•Meat Processor

Professional Organizations National Cattlemen's Beef Association9110 E. Nichols Ave. #300Centennial, CO 80112Internet: www.beef.org

Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research BoardInternet: www.beefboard.org

Cattle-FaxInternet: www.cattle-fax.com

U.S. Meat Export Federation Internet: http://www.usmef.org

Center for Industrial Research and ServiceInternet: www.ciras.iastate.edu

National FFA OrganizationInternet: www.ffa.org

American National Cattle Women Inc.P.O. Box 3881Englewood, CO 80155Internet: www.nacw.org