A
cow-calf operation is a method of raising
beef cattle in which a permanent herd of cows is kept by a
farmer or
rancher to produce
calves for later sale. Cow-calf operations are one of the key aspects of the
beef industry in the United States and many other countries. In the
British Isles, a cow-calf operation may be known as a
single-suckler herd. The goal of a cow-calf operation is to produce young beef cattle, which are usually sold. A rancher who works within such a model is often called a "cow-calf operator" in the United States.