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all over Iowa | I like 15-18 inches per head to start cattle, 12 inches for growing cattle, and 8 inches for finishing cattle. If you have to do all on the same bunk 12" is usually the compromise.
Feeding cattle is a margin business. From 2004 through 2013 the average profit was $27 per head over all costs. From 1995 through 2013 the average was $29/head. I expect it to be much better this year, but if your spending money on facilities you had better look at a 10 year average.
Now, that is assuming yardage is a cost, but it is also an income to the feeder. Yardage is whatever you set it at, but for an open lot, say 30 cents/hd/day, if you have 200 head on feed for 200 days you'll generate another $12,000 of revenue - out of this you pay for your labor, equipment costs, fuel & utilities, facility costs, and repair and maintenance.
The other things that help your bottom line are getting market price for your corn (hopefully) without it having to leave the yard and maybe not having any drying expense, and the value of the manure as fertilizer saving money on commercial fertilizer.
To replace off farm income, you will probably have to feed quite a bit more than 200 head. | |
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