INTRODUCTION

Sample costs and returns to raise beef cattle in Elko County, Nevada, are presented in this publication. This publication is intended to be a guide used to make production decisions, determine potential returns, and prepare business and marketing plans. Practices described are based on the production practices considered typical for a beef cattle cow-calf operation in this region, but may not apply to every operation. A “Your Ranch” column in Table 1 is provided for your use.

(Photo courtesy of Keith Clark)

ASSUMPTIONS

The following assumptions refer to Tables 1 through 3 and reflect the typical costs and returns associated with beef cattle production in Elko County, Nevada. The practices described are not the recommendations of the University of Nevada, Reno, but rather production practices and materials considered typical of a well-managed beef cattle operation in the region, as determined by a producer panel conducted in October 2006. Costs, materials and practices are not applicable to all operations, as production practices vary among ranchers within the region.

Ranch Description

Livestock

The livestock inventory consists of 700 cows, 40 bulls and 12 horses. Ten replacement bulls are purchased annually, with a useful life of 4 years. Cow replacement is 12%, with a death loss of 2%. The weaned calf crop produced from over-wintered cows and replacement heifers is 89%. Replacement heifers are selected at weaning and consist of 140 head. At fall evaluation, 100 are brought into the herd as replacements and the remaining 40 are sold as open or bred yearling heifers. Steer calves, nonselected replacement heifers, cull bulls and cull cows are marketed for delivery in November.

Land/Buildings

The representative ranch consists of 325 acres of land for buildings, housing, etc. valued at $800.00 per acre. The ranch has an additional 8,700 acres of pasture land valued at $200.00 an acre, and leases an additional 640 acres of rangeland at $14.00 per AUM. The majority of cattle grazing is conducted on federal lands.

Production Costs and Returns

Feed

The forage base for the ranch consists of summer grazing on federal allotments (mid-April to mid-November), aftermath grazing on meadows, and winter feeding of alfalfa hay and grain. Grass hay and alfalfa costs are based on 2006 market prices. These costs include the full costs of producing the hay (land, equipment, inputs, etc.) and/or purchasing the hay, whichever is lowest. A combination of salt and mineral supplements are provided during the year at $12.00 per head.

Veterinary/Medical

Cows and replacement heifers receive a pregnancy check in November and are provided with an external insecticide, 7 or 8 Way, and an oral de-wormer. Bulls are also provided with an external insecticide in November and given 7 or 8 Way. Weaned, replacement heifers are provided IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, 7 or 8 Way, oral de-wormer, Naselgen, and Bangs vaccinations. Steer and heifer calves are branded, earmarked, de-horned in May, and vaccinated with 7 or 8 Way and Naselgen. Steers are also given implants and castrated in May. Total annual veterinary costs are computed at $25.00 per head.

Marketing/Checkoff

Calves are marketed through video marketing sales in the summer with a November/December delivery. Cull animals are marketed through local auction markets. Annual marketing costs are calculated at 2% of total revenue. Check off fees are $1.00 per animal sold.

Horse Maintenance

Costs for shoeing horses, veterinary, and feed expenses are based on costs as reported by the producer panel; approximately $450.00 annually per head.

Hauling

Hauling cattle to/from auctions is estimated at $2.50 per head.

Labor

Labor includes one hired employee, one owner/manager, and summer help from local and owner children. Hired labor costs include an annual salary of $20,000.00 per hired labor unit with 75% percent of the hired labor time contributed to the livestock enterprise. The owner/manager receives $3,000.00 per month as a family draw. All employee benefits, payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance are included in labor costs.

Returns

Returns are based on early 2006 market prices. Returns vary from year to year and across years due to market conditions. A full listing of prices used in this publication can be found in Table 1.

Overhead and Capital Recovery Costs

Cash Overhead

Cash overhead consists of various cash expenses paid out during the year. These costs include property taxes, interest, office expenses, liability and property insurance, as well as investment/machinery repairs. A complete listing of farm investments and associated costs can be found in Table 2.

Interest on Operating Capital

Total operating capital is calculated based on 80% of total operating (variable) costs. The interest on operating capital is calculated at a rate of 7.2% for a six month period.

Property Taxes

Property taxes in Nevada differ across counties. For the purposes of this publication, investment property taxes are calculated at 1% of the average asset value of the property.

Insurance

Insurance costs for farm investments vary, depending on the assets included and the amount of coverage. Property insurance provides coverage for property loss and is charged at .666% of the average asset value. Liability insurance covers accidents on the farm at an annual cost of $3,500.

Fuel and Lube

The fuel and lube for all machinery and vehicles is calculated at 8% of the purchase price.

Investment Repairs

Annual repairs are provided for all ranch investments or capital recovery items that require maintenance. Annual repairs are calculated at 2% of the purchase price for buildings and equipment and 7% of the purchase price for machinery and vehicles.

Office & Travel

Office and travel costs are estimated at $3,000.00 for an average year. These expenses include office supplies, telephone service, Internet service and travel expenses to educational seminars.

Capital Recovery

Capital recovery costs are the annual depreciation (opportunity cost) of all farm investments. Capital recovery costs are calculated using straight line depreciation. Farm equipment may be purchased new or used, depending on producer panel preferences.

Salvage Value

Salvage value is 10% of the purchase price, but 50% for purchased livestock. It is an estimate of the remaining value of an investment at the end of its useful life. The salvage value for land is the purchase price, as land does not normally depreciate.

Average Asset Value Computation

(Purchase Price + Salvage Value divided by 2)

Straight Line Depreciation Computation

(Purchase Price - Salvage Value divided by Useful Life)

REFERENCES

Beef Improvement Federation (1996). Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Programs. Available through the Northwest Research Extension Center, Colby, KS.

Forero, Larry C., Glenn A. Nader, Karen M. Klonsky, Pete Livingston, and Richard L. De Moura (2004). Sample Costs for Beef Cattle Cow-Calf Production, 300 Head, Sacramento Valley. Publication BF-SV-04, University of California Cooperative Extension.

Smathers, Robert (2001). The Costs of Owning and Operating Farm Machinery in the Pacific Northwest 2000. A Pacific Northwest Publication #346. University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Oregon State University.

NOTES

Sample production costs and return publications for significant agricultural products in various regions of Nevada are available online at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s website at UNCE. For additional information, contact the Department of Resource Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno at (775) 784-6701 or your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office.

Published by: Curtis, K., Brough, E., Torell, R., and Riggs, W., 2006, Elko County Cow-Calf Production Costs & Returns, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-07-08

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