Sale and purchase of beef cattle farms

Are you looking for an opportunity in the agricultural sector or do you want to transfer your working tool? Welcome to our page dedicated to the sale and purchase of farms specializing in beef cattle. As a leader in rural real estate, ma-propriete.fr supports you in the implementation of your project, whether for a first installation, an expansion or a career change.

Overview of beef cattle farms for sale in France

France is the leading producer of beef in Europe, a position it owes to the diversity of its terroirs and the quality of its herd. Beef cattle farming is an activity deeply rooted in our regions, shaping landscapes and actively contributing to the rural economy.

Production systems and livestock

On the agricultural transaction market, you will find different types of farming systems, defined by their production cycle:

• The breeding system: The farmer owns a herd of suckler cows. Calves are reared under the mother and generally sold as store cattle (males aged 8 to 12 months) to Italy or Spain for fattening.
• The fattening system: The farmer buys lean animals to fatten them and sell them as young bulls, steers or heifers for slaughter.
• The breeding-fattening system: This is the complete cycle. The farmer breeds the calves and fattens them on the farm until slaughter.

The value of a farm largely depends on the genetic quality of its herd. In France, beef breeds (suckler breeds) are world-renowned. During your visits, you will mainly find farms with Charolais cattle (particularly in Burgundy and central France), Limousin (in Limousin and the Massif Central), Aubrac (on volcanic plateaus), Salers (in Cantal) and Blonde d'Aquitaine (in the South-West and West).

Buildings and required equipment

A functional farm requires infrastructure adapted to animal welfare and to the farmer’s working conditions. The livestock building is the heart of the farm in winter. Current trends favour free-stall housing with straw-bedded areas, giving animals freedom of movement.

To optimize daily work, these buildings must be equipped with feed barriers for feeding and care, as well as a secure handling race for veterinary procedures or sorting animals. Manure management is also a crucial point to check: the presence of a compliant manure pad or slurry pit is essential to meet environmental regulations.

In addition, forage and machinery storage requires one or more dedicated buildings, such as a storage shed.

Land: Fields and crops

Land is the cornerstone of livestock farming. The area, expressed in hectares, determines the farm’s capacity to feed its herd. The UAA (Utilized Agricultural Area) generally consists of permanent grassland and pastures for summer grazing and hay production.

To achieve good forage self-sufficiency and reduce the purchase of external feed, many farms also have arable land dedicated to cereal crops (silage maize, wheat, barley) or legumes.

Geographically, these farms are found throughout France, with a high concentration in the “Greater Massif Central” (Auvergne, Limousin, Aveyron), the Greater West (Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy) and Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

Key criteria when buying a beef cattle farm

Buying a farm is a life project that requires thorough analysis. Whether it is a family farm takeover or a transfer to a third party, several factors determine the viability of the project.

Economic and financial analysis

The farm’s profitability is the first criterion. It is essential to analyse the Gross Operating Surplus (GOS) of the last three years. This indicator measures the wealth created by the business before depreciation and financial expenses.

In the beef cattle sector, European subsidies play an important stabilizing role. You must carefully check the amount and transferability of CAP subsidies (Common Agricultural Policy). Likewise, make sure that production rights are held where required by regulations.

Transfer method

The transfer can be carried out in two main ways:

1. Purchase of assets: you buy land, buildings, equipment and livestock directly.
2. Purchase of shares: if the farm is incorporated as a company (GAEC, EARL, SCEA), you buy the existing company’s shares. This option requires an in-depth audit of the structure’s debts and receivables.

Set-up and financing

For new farm installations, particularly for Young Farmers, access to land and financing are major challenges. It is crucial to build a solid financing plan, including the purchase of the property as well as the working capital requirement needed until the first animals are marketed. The condition of fences, water access in plots and compliance of buildings will all influence the post-purchase investment budget.

Services offered by ma-propriete.fr for prospective buyers

Our portal is designed to make your search for the ideal farm easier.

• Multi-criteria search engine: filter listings by subcategory (beef cattle, dairy, sheep, etc.), by location (region, department, district) and set your area criteria (minimum and maximum hectares) as well as your budget.
• Custom alerts: by creating an email alert, you are informed in real time as soon as a new farm matching your criteria goes online. Don’t miss any opportunity.
• Diverse listings: we gather offers from rural real estate professionals (specialized agencies, notaries, Safer) as well as from private owners.
• Geolocation: thanks to our interactive map, you can view the location of properties (depending on the confidentiality level chosen by the seller) and assess their immediate surroundings.
• Direct contact: each listing has a contact form so you can communicate directly with the seller or the agent in charge of the file.

Services offered by ma-propriete.fr for farm sellers

Do you want to sell your livestock farm? Ma-propriete.fr offers you an unrivalled showcase to reach serious buyers.

• Maximum visibility: with thousands of qualified visitors every month, your listing benefits from a targeted audience interested in rural investment.
• Market expertise: our platform is specialized. Visitors are not looking for a city apartment, but for a working tool or a rural estate.
• Confidentiality management: we know that discretion is often essential in the agricultural world. You can choose the level of geolocation for your listing (exact address, municipality, or just the department) to control your local communication.
• Multi-channel distribution: by publishing on ma-propriete.fr, your property can be visible in several categories if necessary. In addition, we actively share listings on our social networks, particularly in our agriculture-focused Facebook groups, thereby increasing your chances of finding a buyer.
• Simplicity: our listing submission interface is intuitive, allowing you to showcase your strengths (photos, detailed descriptions of the herd and equipment) in just a few clicks.

Other services offered by ma-propriete.fr

Beyond listings, ma-propriete.fr is a complete ecosystem serving the rural world. We provide tools and resources to support you at every stage of your project:

• Connecting with experts: need a real estate agent, a notary or a land expert? Use our service to connect with rural real estate professionals.
• Land valuation: knowing the right price is the first step to a successful transaction. Discover our solutions for land valuation studies.
• Resources and advice: our blog is full of technical, legal and practical articles. Check out our buying guides in particular to secure your journey and our dedicated special reports.
• White papers: to go further, download our comprehensive reports on agricultural and land-related topics.

Whether you want to sell a herd of Salers cattle in Cantal or buy a finishing farm in Normandy, ma-propriete.fr is your preferred partner for a successful agricultural transaction.