A cattle rancher breeds cows and bulls for a living. The job involves taking complete care of the animals all throughout the year, catering to their needs and selectively breeding them for optimal results. A cattle rancher will usually work at a farm, or even own it entirely. The cattle rancher is responsible, among other things, for taking the animals outside the farm on a grazing trip, during which he/she must keep a close eye on the cattle and constantly keep recounting them to avoid any losses. Cattle ranchers also frequently provide basic medical attention to animals in need until professional veterinarians can arrive.
Most cattle ranchers usually start out working at a farm, observing the more experienced ones and learning the trade from them. A cattle rancher may choose to continue working at the farm, or start their own after they’re confident with the experience they’ve built up. Running a cattle farm is a demanding job, and one that requires a lot of financing – thus, it’s rare for cattle ranchers to open their own farms at an early age.
The income of a cattle rancher isn’t easy to determine, as it depends on whether the rancher works at someone else’s ranch or runs their own. Naturally, ranch owners have a far greater earning potential, and are easily able to earn up to $80,000 per year. The median salary for employed cattle ranchers for 2009 was $51,000, and the job can offer some great prospects for advancement for the more dedicated ones.