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Can I make any money on cows? #7369896
10/02/21 08:41 PM
10/02/21 08:41 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,866
Indiana
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Providence Farm Offline OP
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Providence Farm  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2020
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Indiana
My hay guy delivered this year because he had it on his trailer and needed it off. While he was out I started talking about needing the farm to make a little more money. He suggested I buy 5 to 690lb calf's in the spring run then on my grass tell fall feed nothing but corn for a few months and have them butchered. He said they would double their weight and I could clear 5 to $600 each. I have 96 acres more than 60 in grass . I will need to put in new premier fence and get a stock trailer so will cost some money up front.

I have no cow experience dose this seem likely or pipe dream. Not looking to get rich but would be nice to generate more income for equipment cost like tractors, hay equipment, ECT..

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369905
10/02/21 08:46 PM
10/02/21 08:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,805
Greene County,Virginia
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run Online sick
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run  Online Sick
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,805
Greene County,Virginia
No. Cows suck money. Unless you are really good at direct marketing beef. Just my 2 cents.


wanna be goat farmer.
Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369912
10/02/21 08:48 PM
10/02/21 08:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,191
Kansas
Pawnee Offline
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Pawnee  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,191
Kansas
A cow has to work for a living or she will break you


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369913
10/02/21 08:49 PM
10/02/21 08:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 352
Ontario
R
RustyShacklefrd Offline
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RustyShacklefrd  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 352
Ontario
Most guys up here have gotten away from cow calf and just buy white steer stockers in the spring throw em on pasture and sell them in the fall . Don’t know what beef prices are like there but here it’s pretty hard to make money on cattle. To much government money in farming now keeping the prices down.
I think there’s more money in sheep now with all the new , “imports” , changing up the demand for beef

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369920
10/02/21 08:54 PM
10/02/21 08:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,822
Nevada
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nvwrangler Offline
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nvwrangler  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,822
Nevada
5 to 6 weight feeders run ? Figure 1 lb per day gain maybe 1.5 lb per day. How long can you run them will give you your total gain. Sell at 700 to 900 lbs for ?

Loose one calf then how much did you make?

I haven't followed current prices but look at usda market report for your area

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369926
10/02/21 08:55 PM
10/02/21 08:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,663
S.E. Ohio
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M.Magis Offline
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S.E. Ohio
His plan is a fairy tale. It won’t work like that and there is no way one can make that much money on feeders. If it was possible we’d all be doing it.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369928
10/02/21 08:56 PM
10/02/21 08:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,554
North central Iowa
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Bob_Iowa Offline
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North central Iowa
For starters you are talking two different types of cattle, your hay guy is saying to buy feeders and background them then take them to fats, you’re talking about buying breeding stock and starting a cow calf operation, both can make money but both can also lose money, if you’re looking at bringing in feeders you need really good fences unless you know the calves are calm and even then it can still be tough to keep them in, cows respect a hot wire better but just remember it takes time to get return on your money for the cows.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369929
10/02/21 08:57 PM
10/02/21 08:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 467
Southeast KY
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K91773 Offline
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 467
Southeast KY
In order to do that you have to be sure that the slaughter house you choose has the ability to have the meat USDA inspected and then you have to have a way to store that much beef and an outlet to sell it as well. The easiest way to do it is to sell the beef in the field to someone for an agreed upon price per pound and deliver it to the slaughter house for them where they pay you when it goes across the scales that way you don't have to store the meat or market it one steak at a time. The down side to this whole equation is right now the slaughter houses that do farm kill are backed up a year or more in a lot of areas.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369934
10/02/21 09:02 PM
10/02/21 09:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,742
Wisconsin
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Bear Tracker Online content
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Bear Tracker  Online Content
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,742
Wisconsin
Small scale beef farmer here. The profit margin is really thin! Every year is totally different. We butcher and market ours so do ok, the tax deductions help. LOL
Also I'll put our beef against any, and will buy back anything we sell and someone does not like it. Has never happened, but our own beef in the freezer is priceless!

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369937
10/02/21 09:03 PM
10/02/21 09:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,528
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline
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Donnersurvivor  Offline
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Posts: 4,528
MN
700 pound steer should be $900
Let's assume you only need 25 bushes of corn to finish them 25 bushes =$150
Let's assume 1300 lb at finish with these cost that means 559 lbs of yield
Total price per pound not including incidentals = $2.05 per pound.

Finished beef steers right now are bringing 1.98 a pound

You'll be getting rich quick.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369939
10/02/21 09:05 PM
10/02/21 09:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 421
West Central GA
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JBR Offline
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JBR  Offline
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Posts: 421
West Central GA
Cattle put me and my sister through college (part time farm about 100 mama cows) We both have masters degrees. But then we have been in the cattle business for several generations. If you think you’re gonna just buy cows and make money then I’d say probably not the amount of money you want till you pay that steep learning curve price of admission first. But yes some years you can make money. Some years you don’t.

May dad and I had a conversation a little while ago. I’m afraid one day soon we are going to wake up and the few remaining small cattle farms will have just evaporated overnight kind of like the small hog farms did


With all that said I wouldn’t suggest anyone NOT get into cows if they want to do it and have room for them. I couldn’t imagine life without my cows

Last edited by JBR; 10/02/21 09:12 PM.

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." Song of Solomon 2:15
Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369948
10/02/21 09:17 PM
10/02/21 09:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Around here goats will make 4 times the money for a small scale farm than cattle. We are in the heart of yearling country here and I'm sure in real world #s we can grow them cheaper than you can on a small operation
Some years they make a little and some years they lose more. Unless you can develop a good reliable market for the finished beef it will harder to make money than you think. And it's more work to develop that regular market than u think.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Bear Tracker] #7369950
10/02/21 09:20 PM
10/02/21 09:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,296
East-Central Wisconsin
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bblwi Offline
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East-Central Wisconsin
If you buy 700lbs. feeders you will have about 50 lbs. of shrink by the time they are at your place and adjusting to your facilities and feed. Even if you go to December 1 to double that weight to get to 1350 lbs. you would need to gain 3 per day for those 230 days. That is going to take a whole lot more corn then I am guessing you are planning on. Realistically you could figure more like 2-2.5 per day with medium corn in the ration, unless your grass forage is exceptional. That would mean you probably would be selling light weight fat stock with lower grades and weights. The only way you could even come out would to have buyers for blended quarters or halves and they pay you an agreed upon price per lbs. hanging and they cover the slaughtering and butchering costs. The market will really down grade unfinished heavy cattle. In either case you need to find a slaughtering plant far enough in advance to process your cattle when they are ready. If you slaughter 5 lighter cattle you will still have a ton of beef to freeze and store to sell later and that process is not low cost and also the income comes in slowly.

If it were me I would buy a couple and eat them in the fall or find a way to sell one to get most of your beef at a lower cost and sell as many bales of grass has as you can. Cattle raisers are always looking for clean good quality grass forage.

Bryce

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369954
10/02/21 09:23 PM
10/02/21 09:23 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 61
ND
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Kyle Krebs Offline
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Kyle Krebs  Offline
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 61
ND
Every area of the country gonna be different. You should talk to some people who are doing what you want to do locally and see what kinda gains they are getting ECT. We in a bad drought most place up this way are. 5 to 6 weight calves looking to get cheaper by the day right now. I don't know for your area what is considered to be small acreage but cows take acres to make any money. If you don't have that I'd suggest sheep or goats. They are good money and don't need all the acres or feed to run them. Also everyone is an expert with other people's money. Just my opinion.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369956
10/02/21 09:25 PM
10/02/21 09:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
If u really want to make $ plant it to switch grass and cedar trees and lease out deer hunts. I know what hunters pay around here, I can't image what the craziness would be in Indiana.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369966
10/02/21 09:31 PM
10/02/21 09:31 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
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KeithC Offline
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KeithC  Offline
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Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
If you live near a major city, direct sales to the consumer can make you relatively wealthy. Many people who live in cities have no clue how cheap they can buy livestock at auction to have processed. They have no clue how cheap they can buy produce at auction either. PBS pushes farm to table, buy local, buy fresh and support your local farmer in many of their programs. Rich people, who feel guilty living in the city, will pay ridiculously high prices.

Sales are so good locally to citiots that many small farmers buy animals and produce at auction and from farther away farms, to resell at huge profit margins, because they can't produce enough on their own.

All of the local produce stands that I know of sell produce that they buy at the Amish auctions at a pretty amazing markup.

Keith

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7369989
10/02/21 10:06 PM
10/02/21 10:06 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 825
North Cental Kansas
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jarrett Offline
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Posts: 825
North Cental Kansas
Buy some broken mouth or short solid heavy bred cows this spring turn them out, let them have their calf. Then August or September spilt the cows and calves and sell them all. You don't have to deal with feeding anything in the winter.


It's your story, tell it how you want me to believe it
Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7370010
10/02/21 10:45 PM
10/02/21 10:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,866
Indiana
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Providence Farm Offline OP
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Providence Farm  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,866
Indiana
I left out we currently have 5 dairy goats, around 60 egg layers, and raise under 150 Cornish cross along with 5 to ten csa's.

Some we eat some get sold. Dart goats are used for cheese, soap, and mils sensitive daughter. The farm generates income but ran at a loss last year. But was nice at tax time.

I put in 1200' of water line, and 4 hydrants, and built a 30'x75' high tunnel this year still need to put plastic on yet. Also expanded my bees from 2 Hives to 4. Was up to 8 but had some loses due to my inexperience. Should expand more during swarm season. I planted a few peach and pair trees and some blueberry's.

We also maple sugar but only finish 3-5 gal per year. I have many trees that don't get tapped but need to get a more efficient evaporator to tap more. It's more of an added bonus for our csa customers if we have a week or so with low production and we have something more made from the farm to deliver.


Direct marketing is the way to go but like stated takes a lot. I need more costumers and I would raise more Cornish cross. We do ok on them and they really build soil where they are run.

I was hoping to fence off around 20acers and run a few cows 5 or less to start tell I learned more. I figured if I were lucky I could eat free and make 1000-1500 maybe. That would pay for the fence in 10 years;) Sounds like that is not even likely unless My boys raise one or two and sell them at 4h. They really support 4 h in our area. That would also be a good use for the land.

Around here it's the Amish selling auction bought produce at farmers markets..

We are 35 min from downtown Louisville and the metro areas sounding. Definitely need to develop markets there but working out of town 3-4 days a week makes that tough.

I guess I could also trap it harder


Thanks for all the comments and insight. Keep it coming.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7370016
10/02/21 10:54 PM
10/02/21 10:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Meat goats are bring $3 or 4 a pound around here.

Re: Can I make any money on cows? [Re: Providence Farm] #7370019
10/02/21 10:58 PM
10/02/21 10:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,501
Wi.
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Diggerman Offline
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Diggerman  Offline
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Wi.
If you buy cattle of any sort, buy quality, sell quality. Right now sheep$ are out doing cattle$ on units per acre.. Back grounding cattle takes experience and luck but can be profitable. would not try this unless you are experienced. For you, the least risk would be as a former poster said, buy older beef cows, calve them, sell both in the fall early winter.

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