To those with cattle

[jyoutz]

The only profitable cattle people I'm observed have good land, and a lot of it. A mixture of both meadows and dry land.

It's an economies of scale proposition. Hobby ranchers don't make it.

It depends. My neighbor has only 900 acres of dry land pasture with good summer rain, but dry spring and fall. Not suitable for haying. He produces about 50 head annually of butcher beef. He has it custom packed and sells meat to the boutique butcher shops that sell “grass fed” beef to restaurants and individuals who pay above market prices. He doesn’t sell live head, just meat.

 

[Rockbadchild]

It depends. My neighbor has only 900 acres of dry land pasture with good summer rain, but dry spring and fall. Not suitable for haying. He produces about 50 head annually of butcher beef. He has it custom packed and sells meat to the boutique butcher shops that sell “grass fed” beef to restaurants and individuals who pay above market prices. He doesn’t sell live head, just meat.

Only 900 acres ??? if that's small what is big ?? 900 acres for 50 head is pretty big in my opinion considering you need around what 2 acres per head per year ? but I guess it depends how much his field produce ...

 

[Torvy]

Only 900 acres ??? if that's small what is big ?? 900 acres for 50 head is pretty big in my opinion considering you need around what 2 acres per head per year ? but I guess it depends how much his field produce ...

Drive across New Mexico and you will understand. Most of it is not great for cattle. Beautiful country, but vegetation is sparse compared to Ontario.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Drive across New Mexico and you will understand. Most of it is not great for cattle. Beautiful country, but vegetation is sparse compared to Ontario.

ha ok, it make sense now, that what I was thinking while I was writing my question/ comment. I did notice that jyoutz was from New Mexico but figured some areas was getting more rain than others...

jyoutz said:

he is max out at 18 acres per head per year ? and they can graze all year long I am assuming ? if that's the case that's pretty cost effective not having to produce hay ...

 

[jyoutz]

Only 900 acres ??? if that's small what is big ?? 900 acres for 50 head is pretty big in my opinion considering you need around what 2 acres per head per year ? but I guess it depends how much his field produce ...

We get 20 inches of precipitation, not double or triple that like the eastern US.

 

[jyoutz]

ha ok, it make sense now, that what I was thinking while I was writing my question/ comment. I did notice that jyoutz was from New Mexico but figured some areas was getting more rain than others...

jyoutz said:

he is max out at 18 acres per head per year ? and they can graze all year long I am assuming ? if that's the case that's pretty cost effective not having to produce hay ...

We get 20 inches annually split between summer rain and winter snow. The mountains get about 35-40 inches. Nothing like the eastern US or NW coastal areas.