West Central Iowa | Patriot81 - 3/11/2019 20:57
Even with calves at these prices and corn just north of $3.50, margins are looking a little thin.
600 lb steer@$1.50/lb $900
Feed/mineral $300-350
Vet/misc. $10-15
Death loss. $25
Labor. $20
Equipment/facility $45
Bedding. $25
Total. $1325-$1390
1200lb steer@$1.16/lb $1392
Profit. $2-$67/head
If your doing the work yourself, obviously you have that to keep but if you have to hire any help or your death loss is higher than 2-3%, it’s looking like a break even venture at best.
Tell me where I’m wrong?
The reality is most of these numbers are constantly changing, so when looking to build long term buildings look at a broader slice of history than the present. Many cattle feeders have went broke, if you had the building, I’d say give it a go right now. If you can’t finish steers at over 1400lbs sell them and buy ones that you can. |
Cattle feeding margins
