How Much Does a Milk Cow Cost to Buy

I have been debating putting some cows out to pasture in my extra 3.5 acres of land. But first, I wanted to know how much a cow will cost me to buy so I did some research.

How Much Do Cows Cost? Generally speaking, a cow will cost between $2,000 and $5,000 a cow. The actual cost depends on the weight of the cow, the gender, and the breed. Yearlings usually sell for between $800 and $1,500. Cows will also differ in price based on whether or not they are dairy cows or beef cows.

Cows can be sold for a flat price for the cow or based on the weight of the cow. Cow and Calf pairs are also sold, which can cost less than individual animals. Let's explore some of the differences in cows and their prices.

What's a Calf Worth?

The age and size of the calf will determine the cost of a cow. A day old calf will require more work and will have to be bottle fed. Those often cost between $35 and $50 per calf. They also have a higher mortality rate with about half of the calves dying.

A yearly, a cow that is 4-6 months old is more stable and will cost more. A beef yearly will cost between $650 and $750 per calf. Older calves will cost more based on weight. A dairy yearling can cost as little as $450-$600 for a calf.

• Beef yearling: $700
• Dairy yearlings: $550
• Older calves $800-900 depending on weight

What's A Beef Cow Worth?

Beef heifers will generally cost about $2,500 to $3,000 per head with an average price of $2,800 per cow. A calf will generally cost based on the weight of the calf. CWT is the unit measurement used to price cows and stands for 100 pounds. The cwt for a beef cow is between $135 and $165. That's an average of $140 per 100 pounds. A 500-pound calf would cost about $700.

Bred heifers cost a little more than 1.5 times the cost of a heifer. A bred heifer would cost about $1,300 to purchase. Full-grown cows can cost as much as $4,000 to $5,000 per cow. A full-grown cow can weigh as much as 2,200 pounds and go for as much as $1.85 cwt.

• Calves: $800
• Heifer $1,300
• Heifer Calf combination $2,000
• Full grown beef cow: $3,000 to $5,000

What's The Best Beef Cow To Raise?

The most popular beef cow in the United States is Black Angus. They require little maintenance during calving season. However,  Black Angus isn't the only great beef cow available. Check out these varieties.

Black Angus : Marbled meat, low maintenance

Charolais : Heavier cattle, coat thickens in the winter

Hereford: Early maturity, great fattening abilities, docile, good milkers also

Simmental: Easy during calving season, fattening ability

Red Angus: Marbled meat and docile

Texas Longhorn: Has horns, survival cows

Highlands: Thick coats, do well in very cold climates, lean and marbled meat

How Much Does a Dairy Cow Cost?

The worth of a milk cow varies between $900 and $3,000. This range depends on the cost of a yearly to the cost of a proven-family cow. Calves or yearlings are much cheaper to purchase than full-grown cows. Additionally, a cow that has been bottled or hand raised will cost more because they are people friendly and better to have around the family.

• Jersey cows can cost as little as $1,400 to $1,800
• Cows sold by weight are usually sold between $1.05 and $1.35 per pound
• Heifers are cheaper than bred cows, ranging between $500 and $1,000
• Lactating dairy cows usually cost between $1,500 and $2,100
• Tame, bottle fed, or hand raised cows generally cost more because they are used to close human contact.

What Are The Best Dairy Cows To Buy?

• Brown Swiss: Gentle cows, one of the oldest dairy varieties
• Jersey: Smaller cow, richer milk
• Guernseys: Smaller cow
• Dexters: Smaller dairy cows also used for meat
• Hereford: Early maturity, docile, good milkers also
• Holstein: Popular for milking cows, great beef cows also

Where Can I Buy A Cow?

You have many options on where to purchase a cow. Local farmers may be willing to sell you a cow for less than market prices. Dairy farmers will often sell mail cows at a lower price because they aren't needed for dairy production. In addition to finding a local farmer ready to sell, you can also order and purchase a cow online. Several places offer cow sales including the following websites:

• http://www.ranchworldads.com/
• http://www.uproducers.com/cattle-for-sale/
• http://www.cattlerange.com/
• http://www.cattle-exchange.com/

How much does a cow cost annually?

Cows generally cost between $550 and $1,000 a year to keep. This includes their feed and care. A cow will cost less if you produce your own feed or if you have more acres to grass-feed the cow from. A single cow will need between 2-5 acres per cow to grass-fed.

Cows generally need between 30 and 40 pounds of hay a day for meat cows. Actively milking cows can eat as much as 100 pounds a day in combined feed. If you need to buy hay for the majority of the year, then it will cost you about $1,000 a year in feed. If you can grow your own feed or have enough land for the cow's grazing needs, then a cow will only cost you $200-300 a year.

Other costs that you will need to factor include:

• Grain, Hay, Alfalfa
• Corn,  Oats, and Barley
• Vet Bills
• Minerals and other supplements
• Other needs such as halters, equipment, etc
• Breeding costs

Related Questions:

How much does a cow cost to keep in your backyard? A steer will eat 15-20 pounds of feed, while a dairy heifer will eat as much as 35 pounds of feed a day (more when combining different food options). In addition, you will need to have a way to keep your cow safe, contained, and healthy. You will need a barbed wire fence to keep it contained. It will likely cost you $300 or more to get your backyard cow ready.

How much does it cost to butcher a cow? There are several costs associated with butchering a cow including the cost to kill, butcher, and prep the meat. If you pay to have your cow killed, it can cost as much as $100. The carcass will need to be butchered and prepped for consumption.

Hanging meat weight is the raw butcher weight of the meat. The cost to prep the meat is based on the hanging meat weight and not the final weight of the prepared meat. Butchering usually costs about $0.55 per pound of hanging meat weight.

Will I Save Money On Beef Costs To Raise A Cow? Beef consumption can be broken into two categories; higher-end cuts and lower end cuts. If you primarily eat lower cost cuts, such as the meat used for hamburger or roasts, you won't save money. If you primarily like to eat higher-end cuts such as those used for steaks or filets, then you will save money.

When you raise your own beef, all the meat is averaged as a cost per pound. According to the University of Wyoming , the average cost to raise your own beef is $4.10 per pound. That means that with an average cost of $2.99 for cheaper cuts of beef, you will overspend by $1.11 per pound. However, higher-end cuts average $8.44 a pound and will save you $4.34 a pound. If you average the costs of the entire cow, and you can consume the entire cow, then you will save yourself $240 a year in beef. That takes into account the consumer costs of $2,081 for 450 pounds of meat and the cost of $1,845 for the same meat in a raised cow.

	Retail Cost	Total Cost	Raised Cost	Total Cost
Lower End Cuts (315 lbs)	$2.99	$941.85	$4.10	$1,291.50
Higher End Cuts (135 lbs)	$8.44	1,139.40	$4.10	$553.50

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How Much Does a Milk Cow Cost to Buy

Source: https://bestfarmanimals.com/how-much-does-a-cow-cost-to-buy/

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