The fit:
Finishing cattle needs buildings and working capital more than it needs acres, which makes it one of the more realistic routes into beef for a tenant or a new entrant.
The advantages:
AFU status gives access to cattle that established finishers with more capital are not always competing for, which can help you buy at a level that leaves a margin.
What to watch:
Working capital is the constraint. Cattle have to be paid for long before they are sold, and the AFU rules mean you cannot trade your way out mid-term.
Next step?
Speak to your fieldsman early. Getting the first batch right matters more when there is no cushion.
