In summary, a steer weighing 1,000 pounds on the hoof will average around 430 pounds of retail cuts (steaks, roasts, ground beef, stew beef, etc.).

Similarly, Is it cheaper to raise a cow for meat?

Raising a cow (or steer) is a looooooooong process. You can (and we have) processed our steers at a year old, but you usually won’t get as much meat and marbling. It’s cheaper (sometimes). … There is a cost for hay, grain, fencing, barns, vet bills and all things necessary to raise your own meat.

Additionally, How much meat will a 1200 pound steer yield? So, to summarize: A 1200 steer, ½ inch fat, average muscling, yields a 750 pound carcass. The 750 pound carcass yields approximately: 490 pounds boneless trimmed beef.

Are Holsteins good eating?

Holsteins, Jerseys, and other dairy breeds are being used for meat once the milking is done. And it’s turned out to be some of the best-tasting beef around. … Most American beef cattle, of which there are hundreds of breeds, including Angus and Hereford, are fattened quickly on a diet of grains.

Is buying a whole cow worth it?

Buying a whole cow or half a cow (not a quarter cow) will get you the best deal. … That’s $0.71 more per pound when you go with a quarter cow. If you can’t afford a whole or half cow (or you don’t think you’ll eat that much meat), the price is still better than grocery store prices overall.

How much does it cost to raise a cow for meat?

How much does it cost to raise a cow? The cost to keep/raise a cow per year is around $500 to $1000. Including the expenses of their feed and other necessities. Raising and buying a cow is less expensive when you already have some extra acres of land to grass-feed them and fulfill their grazing requirements.

What is the cheapest animal to raise for meat?

The cheapest meat animal to raise is the broiler at $0.97 per pound. Grass feed beef is second at $1.64 per pound. Additionally, eggs can be raised for $0.33 per pound.

How much does it cost to buy a cow and have it butchered?

The cost to have the animal slaughtered is $100 for a half or $200 for a whole, payable to the rancher. The cost to have the meat aged, cut, wrapped and frozen so it’s ready to take home is $1.40 per pound hanging weight. Hanging weight is usually 59% to 62% of the live weight.

How much is a 1200 pound steer worth?

How much does it cost to butcher a 1000 pound cow?

1000 pound Steer 1200 pound Steer
Total Costs
$465 estimated

$541 estimated
Ave Butcher Cost Per Pound $0.90 per pound for butchering $0.87 per pound for butchering

19 avr. 2021

How do you calculate meat yield?

Get your yield percentage by converting the edible product weight into a percentage. The formula is EP weight ÷ AP weight x 100 = yield %.

How big of a freezer do I need for a whole cow?

How much freezer space will my beef take? For a quarter share (85 pounds of meat), you’ll want to have 4 cubic feet. And for a Side (half), around 8 cubic feet. A whole cow will need 16 cubic feet.

Why are Holstein steers so cheap?

While the bull, or steer calf was formerly thought of as a by-product of milk production, these animals now have significantly more value as beef. “In the past, that by-product has been extremely affordable because it wasn’t needed,” said Felix. “The dairy farmer needed the lactation but didn’t need the calf.

Do Jersey steers make good meat?

Jerseys are well known for their tender, well marbled meat. They taste great, but there just is not as much meat there as a beef steer. Angus are well known for their meat, too, but really to be SURE you would want to get a steer from a proven line of exceptional meat producers.

Why do we not eat dairy cows?

Many bull calves from dairy herds are raised for veal, and consumption of veal in the US has decreased dramatically since the 1980s. And because dairy breeds often don’t fatten as quickly as meat breeds when raised for beef, when the production of beef calves is high, demand for dairy calves often drops.

How much does it cost for a whole cow?

The cost of the live whole or half animal is $3.50 per pound live weight, payable to the rancher. The cost to have the animal slaughtered is $100 for a half or $200 for a whole, payable to the rancher. The cost to have the meat aged, cut, wrapped and frozen so it’s ready to take home is $1.40 per pound hanging weight.

How much does whole cow cost?

Slaughter cows with average weight of 1,200 pounds cost $600 ($50/100 pounds). Steers with average weight of 550 pounds cost $800 ($145/100 pounds). Heifers with average weight of 520 pounds cost $675 ($130/100 pounds).

How much is a cow worth for slaughter?

Based on the 2019 budget, slaughter cows (1,200 pounds) are expected to average $50 per hundredweight, while 550 pounds steers and 520 heifers are expected to average $145 and $130 per hundredweight respectively.

How much does it cost to raise your own beef?

If the cost from birth to weaning is $400 and the cost from weaning to finish is $390 then the total cost is $790. If the calf weighs 1200 lb at finish, then the cost per lb of gain for a calf that goes through a “calf-fed” system, then the cost is $0.658/lb.

How much profit does a beef cow make?

The average net return favored the high-profit group as they exceeded the overall average by $96.51 per cow to finish the 11-year period with an annual profit of $152.42 per cow. When calculated over the 11 years, this amounts to an additional $1,061.61 of profit per cow.

What is the easiest livestock to raise?


6 Best Farm Animals to Raise (and 1 Not to) When You’re Just Starting out

  • Pekin Ducks. Pekin Ducks are the easiest farm animals to raise. …
  • Rabbits. Rabbits are great additions to any homestead. …
  • Chickens. …
  • Goats. …
  • Pigs. …
  • Cows. …
  • Honeybees. …
  • 19 Homemade Healthy Chicken Treats Recipes Your Chickens Will Love.

What is the most profitable small farm animal?


Raising just a few heads of cattle each year can provide you with a good bonus income since beef and dairy products are always in demand.

  • 1 – Cattle. With a massive market for beef in the U.S. and Canada, raising cattle is at the top of the list for livestock. …
  • 2 – Chickens. …
  • 3 – Goats. …
  • 4 – Bees. …
  • 5 – Rabbits.

What’s the easiest farm animal to raise?


8 Easy Animals to Raise for New Farmers

  1. Chickens. Experts say that Americans will consume over 220 pounds of meat and poultry per person this year. …
  2. Cattle. Beef cattle are also some of the best farm animals to raise, thanks to their hardiness. …
  3. Goats. …
  4. Turkeys. …
  5. Pigs. …
  6. Rabbits. …
  7. Honey Bees. …
  8. Sheep.

Does buying a whole cow save money?

Buying a whole cow or half a cow (not a quarter cow) will get you the best deal. … That’s $0.71 more per pound when you go with a quarter cow. If you can’t afford a whole or half cow (or you don’t think you’ll eat that much meat), the price is still better than grocery store prices overall.

How many cows do you need to make money in 2021?

As a rough guide, farmers can expect to make a full-time income from a dairy herd of about 60-80 cows, and a beef herd of at least 50 cows.