garymason said:
Greetings, Unfortunatley, I am an electrical engineer by trade and therefore know very little about farming/ranching. However, my father has asked my to move to the farm (because his health is rapidly failing) and to take over the farming operations. One of the things he would like for me to do is to start a small herd of beef cattle. He has suggested BLACK ANGUS as the beef he would like me to raise. My question is, is BLACK ANGUS the most profitable type of cattle to begin raising? Or is there another (more profitable) type for my location (Illinois)? Any suggestions at all, about anything?
BATTLE question?
That makes me laugh - how true.
I figure you need to start out by handing out guns and bullet proof vests.
Most profitable?
Too big a question
I would say the fellow that sells orange and pink cows at 70 cents a pound with only one cent of inputs is doing pretty damned good.
Profit comes from sale money minus the amount you put into the cow/calf/steer or whatever.
Colour has absolutely nothing to do with profit - anyone tells you different you better run from them.
I can figure there are a lot of colours out there that sell well - but if you put more into them than you get back you are losing.
And there are a pile of folks selling black that might brag about the sale price - but would never tell you how much they have in that animal
So - you best be doing a lot of thinking and forget the profitable question.
It is INPUTS vs SALE price.
And ..... believe it or not - you do not get to truly control either to any great extent.
Best to you
BC