Lrj505":iij61v2b said:
I feed about 20 pounds of hay a day per cow. I have pasture in the winter ten acres for about 4 months.
$150 a ton at 20 lbs a day puts you at $1.50 a day for 8 months if they are on pasture for 4 months. I get $361 and change. You have meds and wormer. Fertilizer and seed on the 4 months? Lease expenses? Taxes ? Tractor maintenance or fence maintenance and fuel. There's simply not enough information on expenses.
None of us want to judge. $900 per cow would put a lot of folks out of business.
Volume to spread the cost of a new rear tractor tire helps. If you don't have volume, you have to spread the cost across fewer cows. Many of us have been there.
A win/win situation is providing prime beef to friends. Many of my peers at work are still asking to buy half a steer and I no longer have them for sale. My problem was always odd numbers. 9 people would want a steer so that meant selling 4 1/2. So process 5 and trying to find someone else to take 1/2. Take your cull steers to the sale barn. Sell some quality steers to other markets.
Lots of ideas here in the forum.