What’s your cost to keep a cow?What’s your cost to keep a cow?

You need to watch the trends in annual cow costs, market prices to stay profitable.

Nevil Speer

March 17, 2016

2 Min Read
What’s your cost to keep a cow?

There exists a lot of variability around cow-calf maintenance cost estimates. It’s challenging to get precise numbers for any number of reasons (that’s an entire column unto itself). But in the face of expansion, understanding the trends is critical.  

Accordingly, this week’s illustration highlights the Livestock Marketing Information Center’s estimated average annual cow costs. Those costs were running around $400 per cow just 15 years ago. However, during the past several years, producer costs have surged sharply higher and now average nearly $900 per head per year. That represents a 225% increase or nearly 5.6% annually in the past 15 years. 

While markets have been favorable, costs have also escalated. And therein enters the challenge as larger supplies begin to pressure markets. As such, profitability will likely be dramatically squeezed in the years to come, unless costs decline proportionally. That’s where watching the trend is important.

estimated annual cow costs

What’s your cost structure look like? Are these numbers in line with your true costs? How will you adjust to softer markets and lower prices in the years to come? Is there sufficient room in your operation to significantly adjust your cost structure to accommodate lower markets? If not, what will that mean for the pending expansion during the next several years?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. 

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About the Author

Nevil Speer

Nevil Speer works as an industry consultant based in Bowling Green, Kentucky.   He has experience in both academia and private industry.  His career includes working with several start-ups along with various service and consultation projects spanning a wide variety of topics.  

Dr. Speer holds a PhD in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University and an MBA from Western Kentucky University.

You can contact him at [email protected] 

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