Profitability

Weaning rate and measuring cow herd ‘yield’

ruff.72@osu.edu — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Finding a formula to determine exactly what your cow herd is producing compared to your inputs is essential to maximizing your operation’s profits.

Midwest/North: Should I buy hay or grow my own?

wmeteer@gmail.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While cost is the primary factor, there are several reasons to choose buying hay or growing it.

Southeast: Designing a drought plan before you need it

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It is most effective to have a drought plan in place before lack of rainfall becomes a problem.

Midwest/North: A little better is still better

wmeteer@gmail.com — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The constant talk of the cattle markets and market volatility has put a lot of anxiety into decision making. I have found myself trying to be a steady voice in consultations with producers, reminding them that a little better is still better.

Has cow-calf profitability tracked record-high cattle prices?

rick.machen@tamuk.edu — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Through mid-October 2025, excitement built across the live sectors of the beef industry, with high-price records sometimes being reset daily for many classes of cattle. Though drought conditions persisted through the Great Plains and much of the West, the fundamentals supported rising prices.

How retained ownership can affect ranch income and profit

julie.walker@sdstate.edu — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Pricing of feeder calves is based on weight as well as their expected future performance. Feedlot owners and managers are tracing superior as well as inferior animals to the previous owners, and future bids depend on animal quality.

Midwest/North: Reinvesting profits on the ranch

wmeteer@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Are you looking for avenues to reinvest in the ranch this year? Careful thought and allocation of profits is necessary to maintain a sustainable business in the future. Check out a few ideas for reinvestment on the ranch.

Beyond the balance sheet: Assess your business’s financial health

rachael.oleary@claconnect.com — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Whether you’re pursuing a new opportunity or responding to a crisis, financial resilience provides a healthy foundation for thriving amid uncertainty. With a solid vision and goals, a clear view of your organization’s value and a plan to address risk – your business can be ready for just about anything.

Managing variables of calf growth and performance in different markets

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Whether the market is as strong as it has been recently or in a slump, the health and growth of calves are critical to long-term success. Producers need to adapt their strategies to ensure they maintain profitability as best possible.

Tax bill signed into law: What it means for you and your strategy

miryam.wisnicki@claconnect.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law following swift passage by both the House and Senate. This sweeping legislation brings significant changes to individual, business and nonprofit tax planning – many of which take effect in 2025 or 2026.

Southeast: Swiss cheese and BMPs

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

I didn’t invent the “Swiss cheese model,” but it’s one of my favorite ways to explain best management practices in beef cattle production.

Back to some business basics

rossabronson@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The livestock industry is thriving with high calf prices. Sound accounting principles are crucial for strategic investments and sustainable growth. Managerial accounting offers a broader perspective on expenses and profitability.

Key financial ratios for cattle producers: Harnessing opportunity in a booming market

josh.davis@fcma.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In today’s robust market, cattle producers have flexibility as aspects of the market are thriving, cattle prices are at a record high, and producers are witnessing a positive shift in revenues. When conditions are favorable, the critical question arises: What comes next?

Midwest/North: Focus on the fundamentals

wmeteer@gmail.com — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While better cattle prices are a relief to many, it is important not to lose sight of the basics.

Four areas for evaluation to help rebuild with purpose

rossabronson@gmail.com — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Early indicators and predictions show that the beef industry is slowly considering rebuilding the herd. Fewer heifers are being placed on feed and many producers’ current stocking rates are so low that they have nowhere to go but up in numbers.

Leading during times of uncertainty

don@dontyler.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There is usually a period of uncertainty during the months prior to national elections that can cause many individuals, organizations and companies to delay making major decisions until after the votes are counted and more is known about the next administration.

Extending and expanding current tax cuts: Where do we stand?

jason.thomas@bakertilly.com — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

For the past several years, I’ve spoken to numerous groups about tax policy and where we are headed as a nation. I started these discussions by saying, “Where do we stand today …” and began talking through my views.

Adding productivity to land

jamescoffelt@hotmail.com — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Land is our largest investment, asset and expense. So how exactly can we add to its production? One key goal to start with: Convert unproductive land to productive. Cattle perform miracles in converting poor land into production.

Silicon valleys, grassy plains and the ag tech revolution

j.prestegaard@ag.tamu.edu — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Just as the steam engine and mechanization revolutionized agriculture during the first and second industrial revolutions, today's digital technologies are ushering in what some call the third industrial revolution.

To cull, maintain or expand this fall

elliott.dennis@unl.edu — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Cow-calf producers are expected to make $709 per cow over cash costs, including pasture, in 2024. These levels are nearly identical to the inflation-adjusted highs experienced by producers in 2014 ($534 in 2014 dollars, $708 in 2024 dollars).

Supporting ranch sustainability

rick.machen@tamuk.edu — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:38:06 -0400

Even though sustainability has been a frequent topic of discussion among animal and natural resource stewards and consumers alike, there remains confusion within the industry regarding what sustainability actually involves.

Cattler app improves efficiency for producers

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Passionate about cattle and the people who raise them, Ignacio Albornoz, CEO and co-founder of Cattler, and his team have developed a mobile and desktop software platform that handles information covering rations, health, animal movement, and profit and losses.

Reduce financial risk when buying replacement heifers

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Investing in replacement heifers without financially stressing the ranch is every beef producer’s goal. They must consider risks facing the operation, manage their financial health and discover additional income streams the ranch provides.

Will record-high prices = record-high profitability?

rick.machen@tamuk.edu — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Excitement continues to build within the beef industry, spurred by higher prices for every class of cattle.

3 ways producers can stay grounded when profit is up

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

While drought and other economic challenges tightened the U.S. cattle herd in recent years, the constriction eventually created a significant – and welcomed – upswing in profitability for many beef cattle producers.

Why and how to simplify calculating winter cow costs

aliklatt@cattlekrush.com — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Keeping and feeding cows through the winter is likely one of the largest reoccurring investments you’ll make in your cow-calf operation. A lot goes into the final calculation, but the return value from tracking winter cow costs is well worth it.

Waiting for ships to come in: Rethinking ranch profitability

thomasjor@missouri.edu — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Aren’t we often waiting for something to happen, dreaming of some future set of circumstances that we hope will make our operation profitable?

Carbon Ranching: A Win For Your Pasture and Your Pockets

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Undoubtedly, ranching demands immense effort and sacrifices. The increasing pressure to adopt environmentally friendly practices can sometimes feel at odds with producer interests. However, carbon ranching presents an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate farmer and ranchers’ contributions in more ways than one.

What cattle producers should prioritize in an inflationary market

boston.howe@fcma.com — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:35:13 -0400

As record-breaking inflation continues to make headlines, few consumers or industries aren’t feeling the impact of higher prices and interest rates. But even during times of incredible market volatility, producers can mitigate their risk and create staying power for the future.

Focusing on adding value regardless of market trends will equal long-term benefits

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 15:50:29 -0400

“I’ve noticed it before, not just in this cycle,” says Kenny Burdine, extension professor in livestock economics at the University of Kentucky. “There is a tendency with some producers, when prices are high, to almost become satisfied and to be less focused on adding value when they feel like they are getting a pretty good price for their calves.”