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Starting Member
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Last Login: 6/30/2011 7:46:39 PM
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I have a 14 acre farm that I lease 8 acres out to a local farmer for crops. It does not pay much, but pays enough to help with taxes and still keep it in agriculture. I also have about 4 acres in pasture, and I am raising my first two beef cows that will be ready in the spring. I was just wondering if it would be more profitable to turn some or all of the leased property into pasture and get more cows rather than lease it out. It seems like what I will make off of 1 head will be just about what I am getting for my lease. I understand the more cows….the more hay in winter plus grain to feed them out. Any thoughts?
Southwestern OH
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Senior Member
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:53:01 AM
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| You say beef "cows" but from your post, I'm thinking they are beef steers... If it were my land, I'd buy a couple bred beef cows or cow/calf pairs. That way you could gradually increase your herd and be a bit more flexible as to whether you really want to go bigger or not. Right now, cattle and beef prices are pretty good, but that might not hold. If the prices drop, you could be making much less off the beef as it gets finished and then you wouldn't have the lease, either. Of course, farming is all a crap shoot anyway. It's all a gamble.
Karen http://www.facebook.com/MrsKsCreations
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 5/13/2012 1:52:20 PM
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| I wouldn't lease it . I would add more cows. why not buy 500-700lb calves in the spring raise them until fall (should be butchering weight by then)and then sell them. You don't have the added expense, labor of feeding hay.I believe you will also have greater chance of turng a profit this way then if you lease it out.since you allready have cows on the property it will not increase the work load ,time spent on chores, for two cows as compared to 10 or so.
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Average Member
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Last Login: 5/3/2012 6:26:10 PM
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If you don't mind calving out.. how bout pasturing preg cows for shares? If I would have spoke up, that is how we would have gotten started. We do have more pasture than you do, but.. it is a thought. (older cows that have calved before)
Livin to learn
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