What is a livestock rancher?

A livestock rancher manages the breeding, care, and sale of livestock. As a livestock rancher, you may own or rent the land where you raise animals as agricultural products. Your responsibilities depend on the size of the ranch you manage. Small ranch owners may do most of the feeding and care of animals themselves. For a large ranch, you may hire seasonal or full-time livestock farm workers to assist with daily operations. You need a significant amount of experience working with livestock to understand the business and operational aspects of the work. Livestock ranchers may earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field or complete an apprenticeship to gain practical experience before jumping into the industry.