Table of Contents
Is it profitable to raise beef cattle?
Beef cattle are generally the most profitable and easiest livestock to raise for profit. Beef cattle simply require good pasture, supplemental hay during the winter, fresh water, vaccinations and plenty of room to roam. You can buy calves from dairy farms inexpensively to start raising beef cattle.
How long does it take to raise a cow for slaughter?
As a rough guide, it takes about three years to raise a cow for slaughter, however the exact time depends on the breed of cow, the desired use for the meat, the personal preferences of the farmer, and the physiology of each individual animal.
How much does it cost to raise a beef cow?
If the cost from birth to weaning is $400 and the cost from weaning to finish is $390 then the total cost is $790. If the calf weighs 1200 lb at finish, then the cost per lb of gain for a calf that goes through a “calf-fed” system, then the cost is $0.658/lb.
How many cows should I start with?
Most farmers start off with 2 to 5 cows. They may not have the money or experience to handle more. Focus on getting a few healthy cows, then turning them into profit so you are able to afford more.
Is raising your own beef worth it?
Raising a cow (or steer) is a looooooooong process. You can (and we have) processed our steers at a year old, but you usually won’t get as much meat and marbling. It’s cheaper (sometimes). This is especially true when you let your cow raise your beef and feed your chickens mostly from scraps and free-ranging.
How many acres does it take to raise a cow?
The rule-of-thumb says it takes between 1.5 to 2 acres to feed a cow-calf pair for 12 months. So, a one-acre land would not be enough to raise a cow-calf pair, but an acre may be able to support a single cow for some months, depending on the area.
Is cattle a good investment?
It’s smart to invest now while the financial market will yield a higher rate of return than your cost of capital. 2. Though it currently costs more to purchase cattle, securing additional cattle now will reap the benefits of a stellar investment as prices do not look to be heading down anytime soon.
How much does a black Angus cow cost?
Full-grown cows can cost as much as $4,000 to $5,000 per cow. A full-grown cow can weigh as much as 2,200 pounds and go for as much as $1.85 cwt.
How long do beef cattle live before slaughter?
How Long Do Beef Cows Live? Beef cattle are typically culled (slaughtered) when they are young cows between 12 to 24 months of age to have the highest quality grade of meat.
What do you feed a cow before slaughter?
For finishing beef cattle prior to slaughter, most are fed a mixture of ground, shelled corn or millet. These grains are inexpensive, nutritious and add fat to the meat to make it tender.
What is the best age to sell cattle?
Age at slaughter “typically” can be from 12 to 22 months of age for the high quality grade market. The reason for the range in age is that some calves are weaned and go directly to a feeding facility and are finished for slaughter.
How much is a 1200 pound steer worth?
Based on the 2019 budget, slaughter cows (1,200 pounds) are expected to average $50 per hundredweight, while 550 pounds steers and 520 heifers are expected to average $145 and $130 per hundredweight respectively.
How much should I feed my 500-pound calf?
Typical stocking rates are 0.75 to 1.75 head per acre of 400- to 500-pound calves in the fall and winter, depending upon growth, stand, and soil fertility. This can be doubled to 1.5 to 2.5 head per acre in the spring if the wheat is grazed out.
How much can you make off 100 head of cattle?
How much can you make on 100 head of cattle? By this logic, 100 cows would produce a net profit of about $34,000/year. 200 cows selling 200 calves/year would then produce a net profit of about $68,000/year.
How many bales of hay does a cow need for winter?
Calculate Number of Bales Needed Determine the number of bales of hay that each cow needs by dividing the cow’s yearly need by the adjusted weight of each bale. For a cow needing 8,190 pounds of hay per year and a bale weight of 960 pounds, divide 8,190 by 960 for a yearly need of about 8.5 bales per cow.
How many cows make a living?
As a very rough estimate, anecdotal evidence suggests that around 70 dairy cattle or 150 beef cattle is enough to earn a full-time living from farming, although many farmers have several income streams and are not solely reliant on cows.
Can I raise a cow in my backyard?
Raising a couple cattle can feed your family and then some for the year. You don’t even need a lot of land to do it—as a rule of thumb, you can keep one cow-calf pair per every 2 acres of pasture for 12 months.
