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wintering cows.....

Justin

Well-known member
what is the going rate for wintering outside cows over the winter? we had a very good hay year, and was toying with idea of wintering some cows, but not calving them out. good water, very good protection, and good feed. thanks for any ideas....
 

leanin' H

Well-known member
In all seriousness Justin, I'd charge whatever the summer rate is in your area. You'd be providing the same things, if not more. Water, feed and shelter (Inside your home may be an extra charge) would be even worth more when the snow flys.
 

PureCountry

Well-known member
My opinion is it depends on your workload. If you're going to be firing up a tractor everyday and feeding hay out to them, it's going to cost more than custom grazing in the growing season. We charge 85 cents/day for custom grazing yearlings and $1 for pairs. In the winter time, in a labor intensive scenario of taking hay to the cows, I would charge $1.50 for a cow at the very least, only for close friends, cash deal, made on a Sunday, with a cherry whisky on top. :lol: I've heard of folks wintering cows for $1/day, but it was only with good swath-grazing crops, and the only labor involved was moving a hot wire every couple of days.

Hope that helps.
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
Justin, take the lb value of what your hay is worth loaded on a truck. Multiply by lbs per day per cow.
Add in mineral.
Add 15 to 25 cents per day yardage. (this is what you think you and your tractor are worth to feed cows)
Establish a chute charge if anything needs to be vetted. (you can't do this for nothing)
It is much easier to load hay on the truck than it is to deal with someone else and their cows.

BTW, if a "non-organic" cow craps on your land will you lose your certification? :p :D
 

Justin

Well-known member
gcreekrch said:
Justin, take the lb value of what your hay is worth loaded on a truck. Multiply by lbs per day per cow.
Add in mineral.
Add 15 to 25 cents per day yardage. (this is what you think you and your tractor are worth to feed cows)
Establish a chute charge if anything needs to be vetted. (you can't do this for nothing)
It is much easier to load hay on the truck than it is to deal with someone else and their cows.

BTW, if a "non-organic" cow craps on your land will you lose your certification? :p :D

i agree with you gcreek...selling some hay would be much easier, and that was my origanal plan, and will probably go that route. just wieghing the options. and no, i won't lose my certification as long as i run around with a shovel and plastic baggie :wink: :D
 

per

Well-known member
PureCountry said:
My opinion is it depends on your workload. If you're going to be firing up a tractor everyday and feeding hay out to them, it's going to cost more than custom grazing in the growing season. We charge 85 cents/day for custom grazing yearlings and $1 for pairs. In the winter time, in a labor intensive scenario of taking hay to the cows, I would charge $1.50 for a cow at the very least, only for close friends, cash deal, made on a Sunday, with a cherry whisky on top. :lol: I've heard of folks wintering cows for $1/day, but it was only with good swath-grazing crops, and the only labor involved was moving a hot wire every couple of days.

Hope that helps.

I wouldn't charge anything different if it was on good swathgrazing or mechanically fed. It is not about what it costs you to winter the cow but what wintering the cow is worth. If you can winter the cow (in appropriate condition) with less overhead you have every right to pocket the profit. That is your unfair advantage. It also gives you the ability to knock a few cents a day off if you are in a competitive market looking for cows to winter.
 

Doug Thorson

Well-known member
My guess is with the amount of feed in this part of the world, both options are going to be a tough sell. I would like to get some profit off my extra feed also, but I am betting I sit on it, although I keep weighing the option of buying a few calves to winter.
 

Frank in West Dakota

Well-known member
The area you (Justin and Doug) guys live in, the El Nino strengthening, and recent history should dictate what you should really do with the hay! :???:


It's not selling it, and it's not feeding it up into some bankers cows. You might be buying it back next year at twice the price! :shock:
 

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