Best Equipment for Cattle Farming and Livestock Operations
By Caleb Hennington
For cattle and livestock farmers, there's nothing more important than making sure you have the very best equipment for your farming operation. While there are many different types of equipment, from tractors to implements and attachments, there are some vital pieces of equipment we think every farmer should own to make their operation run as smoothly as possible.
Every piece of equipment you see listed here is available at Heritage Tractor, and our team of experts would love to help you find the farm equipment you need to run and manage your business effectively.
Let's dive into the six best livestock and cattle farming equipment that every farmer must have.
Equipment That Every Livestock and Cattle Farmer Needs
Tractors - From Compact to Robust

Every farmer needs a reliable compact utility tractor to help with everyday operations on a livestock farm. John Deere makes the best equipment for cattle and livestock farming. The 1 through 4 series tractors are great for small to medium-sized operations. The 4 Series tractors are loaded with premium, state-of-the-art technology and class-leading features you won't find from any other tractor manufacturer. The John Deere 4044M, 4052R, and 4066M are all popular tractors for livestock operations, and come with powerful diesel engines that can make quick work of hauling, pulling, digging, or anything else you need them to do.
For larger livestock operations, the 5 and 6 Series tractors are industry standards for capable and powerful utility tractors. The 6M Series tractors are highly versatile, cost-effective, and fully customizable. With multiple frame sizes and engine options up to 150 horsepower, they're ideal for a wide range of livestock tasks. Check out the 6120M, with 133 max horsepower and an improved turn radius, it's perfect for livestock operations.
Quick Facts
- 4 Series Tractors
- Great for small to medium-sized operations.
- Loaded with premium, state-of-the-art technology and class-leading features.
- Check out the 4044M, 4052R, and 4066M, all popular tractors for livestock operations.
- 5 and 6 Series Tractors
- Industry standard for capable and powerful tractors.
- 6M tractors are highly versatile and cost-effective, with engines up to 150 horsepower.
- Check out the 6120M with 133 max horsepower and an improved turn radius.
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Explore 5 and 6 Series Utility Tractors
Hay Rakes
If you're planning on making hay bales to feed your livestock operation, then you need to make sure your hay windrows are nice and neat for later collection. A hay rake is a fantastic tractor attachment that ensures your windrows are uniform and straight and ready for the baler. There are multiple types of hay rakes, including rotary rakes and carted wheel rakes. The hay rake that's right for you really depends on what you expect to get out of your equipment. Rotary rakes help to dry hay out and keep dirt and debris out of your rows. This makes for higher-quality bales. Carted wheel rakes, on the other hand, provide the best maneuverability and are better for tough raking jobs due to their ability to conform to varying landscapes.
John Deere's RR21, 22, and 23 models are great options for rotary rakes. If you're seeking wheel rakes, both standard and high-capacity rakes are available, including the WR12 and the WR31.
Round and Square Balers

Balers are another necessary livestock farming attachment. They come in two varieties: round and square balers. Whichever one you choose depends on the type of operation you run. Square balers produce smaller, but stackable, square bales. They're great for livestock operations because of the versatility and storability of the smaller bales. Round balers produce much larger, cylindrical bales that are great for feeding many livestock at one time. Rather than using multiple smaller, square bales for your livestock, you can simply drop one large, round bale in your field or barn and feed your livestock for much longer.
John Deere makes multiple sizes of round and square balers. The small square balers produce small, stackable bales that are easy to store and transport. The 328 Twine Baler is a great starting option for smaller operations. If you prefer round balers and need a larger option that can handle greater quantities of hay, the L331 Baler is a fantastic choice. The 2.2-meter MegaWide pickup makes quick work of wide windrows.
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Bale Spears
If you have hay bales, you need a way to pick up and transport those heavy bales somewhere else. That's where a bale spear attachment comes in handy. This tractor attachment typically features three prongs that are inserted into a round bale to safely and easily move it from one location to another. Whether you're moving your bales to the barn or setting them in a field for your livestock to graze on, a bale spear is essential for a successful operation.
The AB13 Bale Spear fits John Deere 600 and 700 Series loaders, and is equipped with a quick-change, global, and quick-attach attaching system. This quick-attach system makes is much easier to switch you attachments on and off of your tractor.
Read Up on the AB13 Bale Spear
Hay Tedders
Hay tedders are necessary for speeding up the hay drying process before the hay is ready to be rounded up into bales. If you're working with livestock and need to optimize your hay-drying process, then a hay tedder is a necessary attachment for your tractor.
Both the John Deere TD13 and TD34 are great options for turning hay windrow and maximizing drying time. Additionally, through JDLink, you can connect your hay tedder to your John Deere Operations Center to start receiving machine and crop data in real-time.
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Manure Spreader

If you have a livestock farm you know that animals create a ton of waste. It can be a dirty job managing the manure across your land-but why not put that manure to good use and repurpose it for your farm? With a manure spreader, you can do just that. A manure spreader does just what its name suggests; spreads manure across your farm. Manure is a fantastic natural fertilizer that can be used to produce healthier and more abundant crop yields. If your livestock farm doubles as a crop farm operation, you can use a manure spreader to harvest the waste from your animals and use it to benefit your soil.
For John Deere-made manure spreaders, look into the MS2320.This simple but effective spreader discharges the manure from the sides of the trailer and can be pulled by most higher-series utility tractors.
Heritage Tractor is proud to provide our customers with high-quality John Deere equipment options for all types of farming operations.
We have locations throughout Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri, so you're never too far away from the best John Deere livestock and cattle farming equipment on the market. Come see us soon, and let us help you improve your farm!
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