Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

BROOKINGS, S.D. - A new publication from South Dakota State University discusses custom feeding arrangements for cows.

It includes a spreadsheet to help producers calculate their variable costs and fixed costs for wintering cows. SDSU Extension Extra 5042, “Custom Beef Cow Wintering/Dry Lot Cost,” is available at http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx5042.pdf.

Additional SDSU spreadsheets, budgets and management tools are available at an SDSU Economics Department Web site, http://econ.sdstate.edu/Extension/otherlinks.htm.

SDSU Extension marketing/farm business management educator Don Guthmiller wrote the publication.

In it he explains the importance of addressing important issues relating to custom feeding arrangements or dry lotting cows.

Some include when will cattle be received into the lot and removed, and the importance of being prepared for an owner's inspection. Other questions that should be taken into consideration include where the animal will stay prior to calving, whether the calf crop will be shared, and how and where the animals will be pastured.

Guthmiller stresses the importance of regular veterinary care and keeping vaccinations up to date. Other treatments such as tagging, branding, dehorning, castration, deworming, cesarean and insecticide application are advised to be done with care.

The publication also deals with the appropriate price to charge the owner of the cows. Feeding costs and yardage costs need to be factored into the price charged as well as any other arrangements that were made.

Consult the publication for more information.

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