How do I check a cattle ranch’s fence lines and water sources before buying?
Walk the fence lines and visit every water source, preferably with someone who knows the area. Look at condition, repair history and whether each pasture has dependable water in dry spells. Ask who owns shared fences and who holds any water access agreements before you go further.
Fences and water decide how a ranch can be run. Ask the seller for a map showing pastures, gates, wells, dugouts, springs, pipelines and troughs. Then walk or drive as much as you can. Look at posts, wire, gates and corners, and note stretches that have been patched. Ask when the last major repair happened and what it cost to maintain.
Water needs a closer look. Ask what each source relies on, such as a well, a pump, solar power or natural flow. Check pumps and tanks, and ask how the water behaved in dry or very cold weather. Ask whether neighbours share any of it, and whether the access is in writing. Your lawyer can read those agreements.
Ask the seller how the herd rotates between pastures and whether any fields are hard to use because of fencing or water. Check the neighbours’ fence boundaries. Where you are unsure about equipment age and repair, consider an independent assessment of what is on the property. Take photos of weak spots and keep notes by pasture, so you can raise them with the seller and your lawyer later. Plan your walk for a time when the ground is dry enough to reach every corner.
Key takeaways
- Get a map and walk or drive every fence line.
- Ask what each water source depends on and how it handled dry spells.
- Have your lawyer read any shared fence or water agreements.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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