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cow-calf operation
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<blockquote data-quote="rockridgecattle" data-source="post: 730415" data-attributes="member: 6198"><p>I agree with Jeanne, you need some sort of working facility, and before calving.</p><p>You need to ask your local ag extension office or some local cattle producers what their average stocking rate is, and how many #'s of hay or silage per winter you need to winter a cow. This will give you an idea of what you need to winter the cows you want and what you can handle in summer pasture.</p><p></p><p>Since the majority of us have seen droughts or too much rain, alot of us have learned to not over stock so that the need to buy hay is greatly reduced. So ask your local producers what the stocking rates are like on poor years.</p><p></p><p>Do not forget to include such things in your budget as:</p><p></p><p>loose mineral</p><p>salt</p><p>vet expenses</p><p>vaccinations</p><p>accounting fees</p><p>mantenance costs to maintain what equipment you will have </p><p>fuel costs</p><p>any seeding you plan to do</p><p></p><p>Then when you are finished compliling your numbers on the expenses side, add 20% for the things you forgot, price increases, and incedentals</p><p>Then when you are figuring on you income, low ball the calf crop selling price. So if you figure you will get 650 for your steers, go for 500.00 This way you can keep your budget in line. You also are prepared if the market tanks...again... Last year we budgeted 500 for steers and 450 for heifers. </p><p></p><p>Lastly, you mentioned that your calves will pay for your cows in the first year...good luck with that one. I dare say you will be lucky that the calves pay for the upkeep of the cows each year. </p><p></p><p>Where we live, the provincial gov estimated (and my numbers were out by $50.00 on this) the cost to keep a cow per year. 2008 numbers were $495.00 to keep a cow. This included all feed, custom cut and baled, or o/o cut and baled, vet bills, office expense etc. This number <strong>did not</strong> include loan payments, labour, and depreication. To include that the cost was near or just over the $700.00 mark. For the 2009 year the costs were up $50.00 dollars.</p><p></p><p>So if you get $500-$550 for a steer, you subtract the 2009 cost (not including loans, depreciation, labour) of $545.00 and you are in the either in the hole $45.00 or to the good $5.00, depending what you get for your steer. Heifers are always lower, and they will not cover the costs of keeping a cow at this point in the market.</p><p></p><p>Everyone who gets started in cattle seem to think that the cow will pay for itself the first year when the calf is sold. They forget the costs that are incurred to get that calf to market to pay for the <strong><em>upkeep </em></strong> of the cow on a yearly basis.</p><p></p><p>Good luck with your new venture</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rockridgecattle, post: 730415, member: 6198"] I agree with Jeanne, you need some sort of working facility, and before calving. You need to ask your local ag extension office or some local cattle producers what their average stocking rate is, and how many #'s of hay or silage per winter you need to winter a cow. This will give you an idea of what you need to winter the cows you want and what you can handle in summer pasture. Since the majority of us have seen droughts or too much rain, alot of us have learned to not over stock so that the need to buy hay is greatly reduced. So ask your local producers what the stocking rates are like on poor years. Do not forget to include such things in your budget as: loose mineral salt vet expenses vaccinations accounting fees mantenance costs to maintain what equipment you will have fuel costs any seeding you plan to do Then when you are finished compliling your numbers on the expenses side, add 20% for the things you forgot, price increases, and incedentals Then when you are figuring on you income, low ball the calf crop selling price. So if you figure you will get 650 for your steers, go for 500.00 This way you can keep your budget in line. You also are prepared if the market tanks...again... Last year we budgeted 500 for steers and 450 for heifers. Lastly, you mentioned that your calves will pay for your cows in the first year...good luck with that one. I dare say you will be lucky that the calves pay for the upkeep of the cows each year. Where we live, the provincial gov estimated (and my numbers were out by $50.00 on this) the cost to keep a cow per year. 2008 numbers were $495.00 to keep a cow. This included all feed, custom cut and baled, or o/o cut and baled, vet bills, office expense etc. This number [b]did not[/b] include loan payments, labour, and depreication. To include that the cost was near or just over the $700.00 mark. For the 2009 year the costs were up $50.00 dollars. So if you get $500-$550 for a steer, you subtract the 2009 cost (not including loans, depreciation, labour) of $545.00 and you are in the either in the hole $45.00 or to the good $5.00, depending what you get for your steer. Heifers are always lower, and they will not cover the costs of keeping a cow at this point in the market. Everyone who gets started in cattle seem to think that the cow will pay for itself the first year when the calf is sold. They forget the costs that are incurred to get that calf to market to pay for the [b][i]upkeep [/i][/b] of the cow on a yearly basis. Good luck with your new venture [/QUOTE]
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