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| Its hard to do but possible depending on what feed sources are around you. Large corn fields that can have a hotwire put around them are great and can save a lot of money. If wheat/rye/oats is grown double cropping a forage behind it is great. As long as those crops make economic sense to grow in your location. Close Processing plant or farm that produces byproducts viable for cattle feed is extremely helpful( sweet corn husks, potatoes, green beans, seed corn husklage etc) if it is priced well under its feed value. I would recommend looking into all those options before you buy cows and see if farmers would let you graze. Do calculations of what a ration would cost and if it makes sense don't forget equipment cost.
Right now cow prices are going up fast and many are going for $2000+ a head. Many people made the mistake of buying cows about 10 years after prices shot up following the drought of 2012. Many liquidated their herds and numbers were down. Prices rose cows were going 2-3k. Then Things crashed and cows were going for 1200 or less again. Bankrupted more than 1 person.
The trick in my mind is to buy ugly cows that are still good/ok cows for cheap. This can be kind of difficult but extremely helpful. Don't get sucked into the bred Heifers going for $3000 a piece. Just because they are young and look good doesn't meant they will breed back or give birth unassisted and care for their calf. A 10 year cow likely has good genetics(tough /healthy /fertile and maybe can be bought for sometimes around half or less and has a kill value close to her purchase price so if she comes up open or the market prices tanks you can at least break even on her. If things stay good she potentially made a profit in 1 year.
Also don't buy hay equipment lots of junk hay produced at break even price good enough for cows. | |
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Cattle Operation in Row Crop Country - Ideas
