We have found a $125-$150 market for live lambs that weigh 55-70 lbs. and we are not in a big city area but there is a buyer that knows how to find the markets. If I had that much grass I would do some type of meat goat or meat sheep breed. you can probably put 3 or a tad more ewes per acre where you would need probably 1.5 acres per beef cow selling a weaned calf. More work in some ways but at even 250-300 for ewes and double that for a ram you will get a lot more breeding stock for every $1,000 you spend. I had a small cow herd of Herefords for 4 years and did luck out with a neighbor who paid me market price plus a dime for the calves in the fall. We needed to buy a lot of hay, had more manure to haul and only had 2.5 acres. The kids wanted to expand the sheep flock from 8 to 15 to twenty so I sold the cows and bought 6 ewes and had money for the next years hay and grain. I always was a dairy cattle person so sheep were not what I was used to but we make more, spend less and have less work except over all. The other thing is if you lose a ewe you lose a couple hundred, you lose a half weaned calf or a cow you lose a lot more.
Bryce

We bought a registered sheep that was breed but never produced. She had 3 lambs the year before so figured that would be a good start on sheep. Keep her with the goats. She was to flighty for our portable fence operation. The goats just get let out when we move the pen that sheep we would never have caught. Sold her. I like how the goats are in my pocket like a dog vs run from you like that darn sheep.

What Jarrett said

sheep are very herd orientated, very, one alone will be a problem. With a small herd, where one is , all will be.

Dems get their way, they will be taxing your cow farts! Thats now the american way!

Well that's ok I'm betting my cows will be like my wife and mother whom have never farted In their life so I should be clear on the cow fart tax since my cows won't fart.

Money can be made in cattle.

Like any business to do it successfully it takes work and more than like some money up front for infrastructure.

Grass fed, sell direct to consumers and sell a premium product at a premium price.

Be smart about your operation, look at all expenses and drive them down, look at income stream and maximize it.

Don't follow the ways of those who complain that money can't be made, listen to those that are successful and look at why they are.

I heard that last night. I tried to convince my brothers and dad 10 years ago that we should start raising them after i spent some time researching demographics across the country and how they were changing.

One of the things we are very concerned about is where nitrogen prices end up at. If the price continues its climb to $1000/ton it could lead to a drastic switch from corn acres to beans. This could be a real kick in the butt to the cattle industry. Cost of gain on $10 corn is not pretty! Combine that with the drought in cow county and beef at the store may look dirt cheep right now.

Yes there well may be a short term switch to more beans then corn but if you farm in areas that can raise 200 plus bushels of corn on a regular basis and we get more beans and prices drop to say below $10 or even $10, even with high input costs corn will be grown as there is more profit there. Corn is an input responsive crop which means with the genetics and soil added inputs typically increase yields. Where beans are more of a glass ceiling type crop where you plant, hope for a good stand, rain in August and harvest. There is also more world pressure on beans as Brazil and Argentina now raise more beans then the US does.

Bryce

I always enjoy your informative posts on these ag subjects !

I married the farmers daughter literally. Milked many cattle and fed many steers. Never could get a clear conclusion if the beef, or milk, or crops were money makers or not. I assume the farm was in the green but never got to see the books. Can tell you the cows were first to go, starting renting the land out versus farming second, and the steers have been on there way out. But we like to raise what we eat. Also, the cows were a government buyout deal. All I do know if I believed there was money to be made on small numbers like five steers, I would keep one and sell the other four to cover as much of my eater as possible. But I buy from a local farmer instead.

Someone brought up the adjustment of a prospect beef to you moving it and to the new local. Sometimes that adjustment is not a short time and sometimes ends in complete loss due to death.

Also, a bunch of work involved. Like many things if you counted your hours into the scenario you would very likely show a loss just running numbers. I love raising critters but at this point in my life my hours make a lot of money. Years later I may be in a different position.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck at whatever you decide!

If wanting to generate extra income . But don't have experience and don't want to bury yourself in long term start up costs . I would recommend starting out renting the pasture out . You could either just provide the pasture at set price or offer your services of managing someone's livestock ( rotating pasture , putting salt/supplements out , keeping an eye on there health for the owner ) Work closely with the owner of livestock and hopefully gain knowledge to help you decide what direction you want to go . Not much pasture available anymore with farming pressure . I would think you could find a good producer in your area to learn from and generate income at the same time

70-80 % of American's are overweight and many are trying their hand at dieting.

All the new diets are pushing grass fed beef and butter, cheese, and dairy products. If you can tap into that market and make it work, you could sell higher than corn fatted for sure.

Same with your chickens and eggs. They don't want corn or soy fed anything anymore.

Probably less headache and more money in leasing it to a farmer.

I had to have at less 25 head to make anything off them. Even at that I could have made more working at McDonald’s with the time I put in to it.

So do I. I think he should have a weekly show on RFD-TV to spread his knowledge and insight.