North Dakota State University Extension Service - Burke County |
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Cattle Comments |
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Matching Cattle to ResourcesIt takes considerable capital, labor, feed, equipment, and management resources to participate in cattle enterprises. The conversion of such resources into cattle sales contributes greatly to the regions economy with the industry evolving and growing with established cow calf operations and increasing cattle feeding interests. Agricultural statistics indicate the beef cow herd in North Dakota steadily grew from the early 1900's with a little more than 100,000 beef cows on farms to a high of over 1.2 million cows in 1975 to stabilize a at a little less than a million cows in the last decade. The inventory of steers over 500 pounds on North Dakota farms on January 1, which is a reflection of cattle feeding, has grown from a low of about 60,000 head in 1928 to a high of 290,000 head in 1997. Currently cattle sales contribute about 11% of total agricultural revenues. Extensive farming, large CRP enrollment, and increasing crop processing and by product availability lend to further opportunities for a growing beef industry. Resources which will support cattle production vary widely across the region and from farm to farm. Economic advantage is associated with matching the type of cattle operation to the situation. Grazing lands are considered a primary resource to be utilized by and value created from by cattle. Cow herds are the primary tool to generate income off land too dry, steep, rocky, wet or whatever for profitable farming. However cow herds require winter feed and facilities and significant labor and management at certain times that may conflict with farming interests. An alternative for pastures of good forage availability and quality is running stocker or feeder cattle either as a speculative venture or as a custom grazier. Alternative calving seasons and lower labor input wintering methods can make cow herds more adaptable to some farming situations. Low quality forages are another considerable resource as CRP hay or crop residue such as corn stover. Such feeds might be fairly easily and economically obtained, but have low feeding value and are best utilized by mature animals as cows or possibly in the low cost wintering of feeder calves targeted for grazing or replacement heifers supplemented with enough to gain at 1.5 lbs per day. Crop processing byproducts can be a very useful resource in many locations where they can be utilized locally without much additional cost of transportation and storage. Some are high in protein and minerals and make very good supplements to low quality forages used in wintering cows. Others are quite high in energy and can be a primary substitute for feed grains in calf feeding programs. Many times grain exists in an area that is discounted for quality that will still be an excellent feed for growing calves. Large farming operations might easily have on a regular basis some quantity of grain screenings or damaged grain that could be marketed through feeder cattle in the fall and early winter months without great conflict to farming demands. It appears in many situations that manpower and capital are more limiting than feed. The margins in most cattle enterprizes are not large enough to offset high investment and overhead. Realistic budgeting and planning will be needed for financing. Situations of existing facilities, modest low cost designs, growing into something from a modest start, or cooperating with others can help gain entry into cattle production. There is real economic value to an area in each additional cow maintained and calf fed through increased revenues, purchased inputs, and circulated dollars. A challenge is to identify the resources available with a comparative cost advantage, match them to a compatible production enterprise and system, and operate it with efficiencies to reward the investment in time and capital with a competitive return.
Dan Folske |
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