If the land is rented, where will you raise the cattle? Crop share on hay and beans goes to the land owner.
If there is some unimproved pasture, you might be able to run 20 cows for the summer, but will need hay for the winter.
If you buy 20 bred Highland cows, minimum price probably $800 per. Thats $16000. Fences and misc. for the summer, figure $1500. Buying hay for the winter, even at $50/ton, 2 tons/cow $2000. Get lucky and save every calf, you will have 20 cows and 20 yearlings to pasture the second summer. If you sold them off the cow you could take in some income, likely $320/calf, but to get them ready to sell as beef, you'll need to keep them longer. Highlands take 3 years to get big enough to sell as beef.
If you hit the high end private beef market, you could take in $1000 per head after the 3 years. Figure in feed and other costs, you'll have $400 net. Even on the full 20 head, thats $8000 net, before taxes. If you can live on $8000 a year and not get any of it until 3 years from now, go for it.
You could place an ad looking for a job on a cattle farm, specifying you will work cheap for the first few months in exchange for experience and a start. Otherwise, don't quit your day job.
Jason Trowbridge Southern Angus Farms Alberta Canada
[email protected]
