US-style investors the key to success in beef here?

LIKE the Irish cattle farmer, the American beef rancher has to carry a lot of risks before seeing the possibility of a profit.

Out West, a pen of 100 head of cattle costs about $50,000, just to just buy the young livestock. This does not include the feeding and feedlot costs to bring them to beef.

Many US farmers are discouraged by these high costs from purchasing cattle even though there may be profit potential in cattle feeding.