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Started By
Message
Any Money in Cattle Farming?
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:35 am
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:35 am
I have access to about 300 Acres of pasture land, which a few horses are on currently. I'm thinking of getting into Cattle farming and wondering if you can make enough money with say 100 head or so.
I already have most all of the equipment needed and am familiar with livestock as I was raised around them.
I already have most all of the equipment needed and am familiar with livestock as I was raised around them.
16
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:37 am to Jack Ruby
Cattle is down right now. Better time to get in than 2 years ago. 100 head on 300 acres depends on your area and pasture quality.
What is "enough money" to you?
I know guys lately who have lost their butt with a few hundred head.
And now I'll turn it over to the more experienced.
What is "enough money" to you?
I know guys lately who have lost their butt with a few hundred head.
And now I'll turn it over to the more experienced.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:38 am to Jack Ruby
No, but it would be a good investment in a SHTF scenario..
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:50 am to Jack Ruby
It depends on how you want to live, but I couldn't make a living on 100 head. It'd be very good supplementary income.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:51 am to Jack Ruby
Cattle is very tough to make money on, especially if it is just a side thing. That being said now is the time to get in if you do.
This post was edited on 1/12/17 at 9:52 am
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:07 am to Jack Ruby
You need a plan first. Registered or commercial cattle? Cow calf or feeder calf operation? Do you want your calves born all at once or throughout the year? How is your pasture? Do you have a place to get hay? Cattle prices are extremely cyclical, there's only good times and bad times. 100 head is a lot of work, you probably won't make enough to quit your day job (depending on what your lifestyle is). It's not bad as a side business though.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:10 am to jimbeam
I have two small really good Meadows, plus the rest is just regular, normal pasture land.
I'm also not trying to make hundreds of thousands of dollars on this. If I could make 30 to 50K I'd be happy.
Yes, I have Ave access to some hay, but would have to buy some too.
I'm just trying to get all the info I need. My dad is also close to retirement and could do a lot of the work.
I'm also not trying to make hundreds of thousands of dollars on this. If I could make 30 to 50K I'd be happy.
Yes, I have Ave access to some hay, but would have to buy some too.
I'm just trying to get all the info I need. My dad is also close to retirement and could do a lot of the work.
This post was edited on 1/12/17 at 10:12 am
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:11 am to Jack Ruby
You can still make some money, prices had stabilized for right now and you can use the futures and lock in estimated profits of $100/hd or so. I'm talking buying 600-700# calves and taking to 1,200#. There is a ton of feed cost in that and if you are just going to pasture them you probably aren't going to take them that big. So say you have 100 head on grass and make $100/head you've made $10,000 and it took you 6 months to do it.
To me, if you are going to do that 2x a year then it's not worth it. But that doesn't mean its not worthwhile. It's really only a hobby at that level.
To me, if you are going to do that 2x a year then it's not worth it. But that doesn't mean its not worthwhile. It's really only a hobby at that level.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:13 am to ConfusedHawgInMO
So you basically have to have 500 or more to make any kind of money I'm guessing.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:23 am to Jack Ruby
You have to take a lot of risk to do that. Plus getting a loan to purchase 500 head has got to be hard. Got to start somewhere. Nothing wrong with starting with 10 if you enjoy it.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:23 am to Jack Ruby
If you're doing it for a living, then yes you'll need a large number.
If it's a side gig and tax write off, you can make enough to add income, but you have to choose a number of cattle that you can effectively manage while still holding your job.
ETA: If you have all your equipment, such as tractors, hay equipment, fences, catch pens, etc. in place, then you've already reduced the start-up cost significantly. It'll be much easier for you to turn a profit
If it's a side gig and tax write off, you can make enough to add income, but you have to choose a number of cattle that you can effectively manage while still holding your job.
ETA: If you have all your equipment, such as tractors, hay equipment, fences, catch pens, etc. in place, then you've already reduced the start-up cost significantly. It'll be much easier for you to turn a profit
This post was edited on 1/12/17 at 10:39 am
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:24 am to Jack Ruby
That's a pretty big operation.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:37 am to Jack Ruby
a friend of mine did this as a side gig. turned about 20% profit year over year after the ranch hand and vet fees.
it takes some pretty serious capital upfront
it takes some pretty serious capital upfront
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:39 am to Jack Ruby
"The quickest way to make a million bucks in cattle is start with two million"
"I find the best yielding cattle do so in the shade of an oil well"
Depending on your management practices, location/grazing/forage, breed selection, time able to devote yes there can be money to be made some years. Cattle are really down from what they were a few years ago so technically, now would be a good time to buy and get into it.
Be warned though, you can lose your arse faster than you realize it's happening if you aren't careful. Lots of free (or cheap) help and resources from your state's Ag school extension program.
"I find the best yielding cattle do so in the shade of an oil well"
Depending on your management practices, location/grazing/forage, breed selection, time able to devote yes there can be money to be made some years. Cattle are really down from what they were a few years ago so technically, now would be a good time to buy and get into it.
Be warned though, you can lose your arse faster than you realize it's happening if you aren't careful. Lots of free (or cheap) help and resources from your state's Ag school extension program.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:40 am to Jack Ruby
quote:
Any Money in Cattle Farming?
Not really. To make money it has to be a large operation, to run a large operation you'll have to hire help. You'll need more calves to sell to pay for the help. And round and round you go.
We have a few for tax exemption purposes on some property in TX. The calves we sell each year pay for hay, cubes, wormer and vaccines. On good years we'll make a couple extra thousand dollars, and we come up short on bad years. But it averages just about even. I do 90% of the labor for free. I just love them, or else I wouldn't be doing it.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:50 am to Jack Ruby
Here's a link for starting a grass-fed operation done by Virginia Tech. It does a really good job of cost estimates.
They take it all the way to market so you'll have to take out the things that don't apply to you.
I will say I think they over estimate fence by a lot. Their estimate is for full replacing of everything every 5 years. I've never heard of a farmer anywhere ever replacing all his fence that often plus there's programs to offset the cost.
I have issue with counting your own labor as a cost. Unless you specifically pay yourself a wage for the labor, it shouldn't be in there. That "money" would go to you anyway so it's not like you're coming out of pocket.
LINK
They take it all the way to market so you'll have to take out the things that don't apply to you.
I will say I think they over estimate fence by a lot. Their estimate is for full replacing of everything every 5 years. I've never heard of a farmer anywhere ever replacing all his fence that often plus there's programs to offset the cost.
I have issue with counting your own labor as a cost. Unless you specifically pay yourself a wage for the labor, it shouldn't be in there. That "money" would go to you anyway so it's not like you're coming out of pocket.
LINK
Posted on 1/12/17 at 10:57 am to Jack Ruby
In the 80's and 90's, my grandfather managed 100-150 head. I think a few years he made more off the government in tax credit than he did profits from cattle. In the 2000's he switched his pastures over to growing high-quality alfalfa for horses in Kentucky and Tennessee. I helped him a lot and quality control was key. He was too old to manage cattle and it was perfect use-to-return for his land. He made decent farmer money off of the alfalfa, but he also had the inside track on getting bulk buyers needing the quality.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 11:07 am to Jack Ruby
My neighbor behind is a cattle farmer, not sure how many heads hes managing.
Every 3 years he has a new Chevrolet 3500, his son who works with him is the same. I don't know how many cows they have but they sure seem to be making money off of them Supporting 2 family's.
Every 3 years he has a new Chevrolet 3500, his son who works with him is the same. I don't know how many cows they have but they sure seem to be making money off of them Supporting 2 family's.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 11:12 am to Jack Ruby
It is if you know what you are doing...
Posted on 1/12/17 at 11:44 am to Jack Ruby
Intense management helps.
See your cattle at least once or twice daily and correct little things before they become problems.
If you don't love being around them and caring for them, it ain't worth it.
See your cattle at least once or twice daily and correct little things before they become problems.
If you don't love being around them and caring for them, it ain't worth it.
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