South Texas rancher-educator applies his own cow-calf data to generate profitability study.

Alan Newport, Editor, Beef Producer

January 16, 2018

5 Min Read
Steven Lukefahr's own cattle are truly medium-framed, bred to fit the South-Texas environment. They graze multiple paddocks to help him cut costs and problems to the bone, while boosting productivity.Steven Lukefahr

A recent analysis on the profitability of varied cow sizes and calf production levels shows smaller cows continue to show superior profitability on a ranch scale, particularly when measuring profit per acre and per ranch.

Steven Lukefahr of Kingsville in South Texas compiled this research. He runs a part-time cow-calf operation and teaches at Texas A&M University–Kingsville. In his own operation he uses grazing management and locally adapted cattle to accomplish the amazing joint feats of decreasing costs, increasing production, and improving profit all at the same time.

Lukefahr explains that he performed a simple economic analysis involving four models that involve total cow cost figures of $300, $600, and $900 for varied cow sizes, and using a 1,000-acre pasture unit. (See sidebar story for more details.)

For this study, Lukefahr constructed four models:

Model I design. Applies equal total cow costs across all cow size groups and a constant 500-pound weaning weight (WW).

Model II design. Applies equal total cow costs to all cow size groups, but increasing weaning weights across cow size groups.

Model III design. Applies higher total cow costs as cow size increases, but a constant 500-pound weaning weight.

Model IV design. Applies higher total cow costs as cow size increases, with increasing weaning weights across cow size groups as cow size increases.

1-15-Lukefahr-chart1_0.jpg

This chart for equal cow costs, increasing weaning weights.

In building these models, he considered the many claims that bigger cows don't cost any more to keep and the opposing view that they do. He also explored the ideas that bigger cows always produce bigger calves, and that bigger cows may not produce bigger calves. In his research descriptions, he also drew attention to North Dakota data showing that bigger cows may produce smaller calves as their genetic potential outstrips the capacity of their local resources. He also made a point not to increase demands from higher milk production (to simplify the models), but only from body size, a situation which is largely unique to other models and experimental data.

In setting his cost structure, Lukefahr noted that the Livestock Marketing Information Center in 2015 predicted total cow costs of $851 per cow for 2016 and considered his own low costs. In his simple economic analysis he included four models that involve total cow cost figures of $300, $600, and $900 per cow. He also included five cow weight classes in 100-pound increments from 1,000 to 1,400 pounds as used by University of Wyoming researcher Derek Scasta in Scasta et al. (2015, 2016).

1-15-Lukefahr-chart2_0.jpg

This chart shows equal cow costs, increasing weaning weights.

These calculations are for four scenario operations that would have the forage to run 100 of the smallest cows or an equivalent forage consumption by the larger cows. Specifically, the herd sizes would be 100, 91, 83, 77, and 71 cows from 1,000 pounds up to 1,400 pounds.

Lukefahr analyzed profit per cow and overall profit on a per-acre basis for each of the four model operations. Very importantly, he added this: "The business focus should not be on profit per cow but economic returns to the land. Interestingly, profit per acre better reflects the health of the business."

1-15-Lukefahr-chart3.jpg

This chart shows increasing cow costs, steady weaning weights.

Here is a summary of what he found about profit per acre. Also look at the graphical representation of the four models presented with this story.

Model I results: (Equal cow costs, equal WW) For the low-input $300 cost level, higher profits per acre are made by smaller cows by weaning calves with similar weaning weights, there are no profit returns at the $600 cost level, and large losses occur at the $900 cost level. At the $300 level the larger number of smaller cows were more profitable, while at the $900 level the heavier cows, even though they are fewer in number, lose less money even though losses still occur.

Model II results: (Equal cow costs, increasing WW) Despite the seemingly magical ability of larger cows not to cost more, their fewer numbers still hurt real profits. Somewhat higher returns to the land occur at the $300 cost level than in Model I, very slim profits are realized at the $600 cost level, and losses occur at the $900 cost level.

Model III results: (Increasing cow costs, steady WW) Lukefahr noted this is the best-case scenario for lighter cows but the worst-case scenario for heavier cows. It also comes closest to mimicking the North Dakota data (Ringwall, 2008) that showed smaller cows from bigger cows. As expected, lighter cows return more profit to the land than heavier cows at the $300 cost level because heavier cows were assumed not to wean heavier calves. Only zero to slim profits are realized at the $600 cost level. Compared with Model II, even higher losses occur for all cow herd sizes at the $900 cost level.

Model IV results: (Increasing cow costs, increasing WW) Compared with Model III, at the $300 cost level the profit per acre was somewhat higher because calf weights were heavier across cow size groups. Across each cost level there is a $30 loss in profit per acre, Lukefahr noted.

1-15-Lukefahr-chart4.jpg

This chart shows increasing cow costs, increasing weaning weights.

Five economic assumptions

1. Cows consume 2.2% of body weight daily in forage (dry matter basis) and have equal milk production levels (Scasta et al., 2015; 2016).

2. Stocking rates are 100, 91, 83, 77, and 71 cows weighing 1,000, 1,100, 1,200, 1,300, and 1,400 pounds, respectively, in a 1,000-acre pasture (Therefore 10 acres/animal unit; AU=1,000-pound cow). If 100% of cows in each cow size group wean a live calf, pounds weaned per acre is the same figure as cow efficiency (%) (Scasta et al., 2015; 2016).

3. An average 210-day adjusted weaning weight (WW) of 500 pounds for all cow size groups was modeled, versus a 15.5-pound increase with each 100-pound increase in cow body weight (calculated from data published by Costa et al., 2011).

4. Total business costs were figured at $30,000, $60,000, and $90,000 for 100, 1,000 pound cows as the basis for comparison across cow size herds.

5. Total revenue based on 80% of the cow herd selling a 500-pound or heavier weaned calf. The 20% figure accounts for open cows, calves not surviving and/or retaining replacements.

To read Lukefahr's entire study go to his website: https://lukefahr-ranch.com/. Then open the tab "Higher Profits Per Acre" to read his study.

About the Author(s)

Alan Newport

Editor, Beef Producer

Alan Newport is editor of Beef Producer, a national magazine with editorial content specifically targeted at beef production for Farm Progress’s 17 state and regional farm publications. Beef Producer appears as an insert in these magazines for readers with 50 head or more of beef cattle. Newport lives in north-central Oklahoma and travels the U.S. to meet producers and to chase down the latest and best information about the beef industry.

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