Annual Cow Cost Spreadsheet (Asweb - 146)

Author: Dr. Jason Banta, Associate Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

These spreadsheets are designed to help cow-calf producers estimate annual cow costs and profitability per cow exposed as w
per acre with various input costs and stocking rates (i.e. grazeable acres needed per cow-calf pair)

Annual Cow Cost Spreadsheet:

This spreadsheet allows the user to input various expenses, calf income, and weaning rate percentage to calculate potential
profitability per cow exposed and per acre.
Throughout these spreadsheets any cells with blue font are designed to be changed or customized by the user. All other cells a
locked, so that calculations are not accidently changed.
If cells contain a red triangle you can hover over the triangle to get a note on what is included in that cell.
Column (A): In cells A2 through A37 different expense categories are listed. Some cells are labeled as enter you own category
allow producers the ability to list additional expenses that may occur on their operation. Cells A41 through A46 list different item
related to profit and loss for the operation.
Column B (cells B30 - B37): Grazeable acres needed per cow-calf pair should be entered in cell B30. Grazable acres needed w
vary with cow size as well as location, rainfall, forage species, and any other factors affecting forage production per acre. It is c
to include as accurate of an estimate as possible, if unsure it is always better to be conservative and enter more acres per cow-
pair instead of less. In cells B31 to B37 enter appropriate costs on a per acre basis.
Row 41 (cells B41, C41, and D41): Weaning rate percentage (number of cows exposed to bulls divided by number of calves we
has a huge impact on the profit or loss of an operation. In these 3 cells enter different weaning rate percentages to see how the
values affect profit and loss potential for an operation.
Row 42 (cells B42, C42, and D42): In cell D42 enter the net calf value at time of sell. This value would be the gross $/head min
any commission, fees, or freight. The value in cell B42 will automatically be carried over to cells C42 and D42.
Row 43 (cells B43, C43, and D43): No values are entered in these cells. These cells calculate the net value of each calf when
adjusted for weaning rate percentage.
Row 45 (cells B45, C45, and D45): No values are entered in these cells. The cells list the profit or loss per cow exposed for ea
corresponding weaning rate percentage and the annual cow cost.
Row 46 (cells B46, C46, and D46): No values are entered in these cells. The cells list the profit or loss per acre for each weanin
percentage and the annual cow cost and grazable acres per cow-calf pair.
Column C (cells C2-C12): In cells C2-C11 enter the estimated expense on a per head basis for each item. Cell C12 cannot be
changed and is the sum of all health related expenses that are entered in cells C2 through C11.
Column C (cells C13-C29): Enter the estimated expenses on a per head basis for each item.
Column C (cells C31-C37). These cells cannot be changed. Using the grazeable acres entered in C30 and the per acre expens
C31 through C37 a calculation is made to determine per head expenses for these items often thought of on a per acre basis.
Column C (Cell C38): This cell is the total annual cost per cow, it is the sum of all expenses.
Column D (Cells D12-37): These cells cannot be changed and are automatically calculated. They represent the percentage of t
expenses each item represents. Cell D38 is just a check to show that all percentages equal 100%.

Estimating Costs Spreadsheet:

Throughout this spreadsheet any cells with blue font are designed to be changed by the user. All other cells are locked, so that
calculations are not accidently changed. This worksheet is divided into several sections (highlighted in different colors) that are
designed to be used individually and to help estimate inputs needed in the annual cow cost worksheet.

Estimating annual hay needs and cost

Dry-matter basis: This is a way of expressing intake and nutrient requirements on a water free basis. It allows for equal compar
across a range of feedstuffs that vary in water content.
As-fed basis: This just is just a way of expressing the amount of feed consumed that includes both the water and dry matter por
It is representative of the weight of hay and other feedstuffs when they are measured in the field.
Hay intake per day, % of body weight (dry-matter basis): A general intake guideline is that dry cows in late gestation will consum
% to 2.0% of their body weight on a dry-matter basis in hay per day. Lactating cows will consume about 2.3% to 2.5%. Lower q
forages will reduce intake and higher quality forages will increase intake.
Generally cured hay in round bales will run between 90% and 93% dry matter.

Estimating annual mineral needs and cost (all values on as-fed basis)
For a mineral with a target intake of 4 ounces per day, intake would be expected to range from about 3 to 5 ounces throughout
year. Intake will be a little higher when cows are lactating and older calves are consuming some mineral.

Estimating annual cow depreciation

This is an often overlooked expense in a cow-calf operation. It is critical to include it in any budget or cost estimates.

Estimating annual bull breeding expenses

This section allows the user to estimate bull breeding expenses under 3 different scenarios with varying purchase prices, value
sold as a market bull, annual maintenance costs, number of years in service and number of cows exposed to.
It calculates both average estimated genetic cost and maintenance cost. The average estimated genetic cost is calculated by
(purchase price - sell price of bull)/number of cows exposed to during lifetime. The average maintenance cost is calculated by
(annual maintenance cost*years of maintenance)/total number of cows exposed to during lifetime.

Estimating annual equipment cost per cow

This section allows the user to estimate equipment cost per cow per year. This cost is often underestimated in many operations
Column (A): This column list several equipment items that are found on many farms and ranches. In addition it allows the user t
additional items.
Column (B): List the purchase price of each item.
Column (C): List the estimated salvage value of each item, in some cases this will be zero.
Column (D): List the estimated average annual maintenance costs associated with each item.
Column (E): List the estimated number of years the item will be used.
Column (F): List the estimated average number of cows per year the item will be used for.
Column (G): This column is automatically calculated and can't be changed. The value in cell G90 should be included on the ann
cow cost worksheet.
 Annual Cost, $ per
head or cow-calf % of Total
Item pair Annual Costs
Cow vaccine $0.00
Cow dewormer $0.00
Cow external parasite control $0.00
Calf vaccine $0.00
Calf dewormer $0.00
Calf external parasite $0.00
Calf implant(s) $0.00
Vet expenses $0.00
Enter your own category $0.00
Enter your own category $0.00
Total Health Costs $0.00 #DIV/0!
Breeding expenses $0.00 #DIV/0!
Pregnancy determination $0.00 #DIV/0!
Perennial pasture depreciation or establishment $0.00 #DIV/0!
Annual pasture establishment $0.00 #DIV/0!
Hay $0.00 #DIV/0!
Protein and energy supplements $0.00 #DIV/0!
Mineral supplement $0.00 #DIV/0!
Equipment (tractor, trailer, feed bunks, etc.) $0.00 #DIV/0!
Fuel $0.00 #DIV/0!
Fencing depreciation or new construction $0.00 #DIV/0!
Labor $0.00 #DIV/0!
Interest and finance charges $0.00 #DIV/0!
Cow depreciation per year $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category $0.00 #DIV/0!
Grazable acres per cow-calf pair 5
Fertilizer cost (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Weed control (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Forage insect control (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Taxes (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Pasture lease or opportunity cost (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Enter your own category (cost per acre) $0.00 $0.00 #DIV/0!
Annual cow cost $0.00 #DIV/0!

Projected profit or loss per exposed cow and per acre as influenced by weaning rate percentage
Weaning rate, % of cows exposed 80% 90% 100%
Net calf value at sale, $/hd $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Net calf value, $/hd of exposed cows (adjusted for weaning rate) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Profit or loss per exposed cow $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Profit or loss per acre $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
 A B C D E F G H
1 Estimating annual hay needs and cost
2 Cow weight, lbs 1,300
3 Hay intake per day, % of body weight (dry-matter basis) 2.30%
4 Hay intake per day, lbs (dry-matter basis) 29.9
5 Hay dry matter, % 90%
6 Hay intake per day, lbs (as-fed basis) 33.2
7
8 Storage losses 10.00%
9 Feeding losses 5.00%
10 Hay needed per day adjusted for storage and feeding losses, lbs (as-fed basis 38.9
11 Number of days feeding hay 120
12 Hay needed per year adjusted for storage and feeding losses, lbs (as-fed basi 4,663
13
14 Hay cost, $/bale (as-fed basis) $45
15 Bale weight, lbs (as-fed basis) 1,100
16 Hay cost per ton, $ (as-fed basis) $81.82
17 Number of bales needed per cow per year 4.24
18
19 Hay cost per cow per day, $ $0.87
20 Hay cost per cow per year, $ $104.91
21
22
23 Estimating annual mineral needs and cost (all values on as-fed basis)
24 Mineral intake per day, ounces/cow/day 4.00
25 Mineral intake per day, lbs/cow/day 0.25
26 Mineral intake per year, lbs/cow/year 91.25
27 Mineral cost, $ per 50 lbs bag $22.00
28 Mineral cost, $/ton $880.00
29 Mineral cost per day, $/cow/day $0.11
30 Mineral cost per year, $/cow/year $40.15
31
32 Number of cows in the herd 45
33 Herd mineral consumption per day, lbs 11.25
34
35
36 Estimating annual cow depreciation
37 Purchase price or value of long bred heifer or cow (6 - 8 months bred), $/hd $1,400
38 Value when sold as market cow, $/hd $800
39 Years in production or since purchase 8
40 Annual cow depreciation $75.00
41
42
43 Estimating annual bull breeding expenses Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C
44 Bull purchase price, $hd $4,000 $6,000 $8,000
45 Value when sold as a market bull, $/hd $1,800 $1,800 $1,800
46 Genetic cost, $ $2,200 $4,200 $6,200
47 Annual maintenance cost, $/hd $600 $600 $600
48 Years of maintenance 4 4 4
49 Number of cows exposed to during 1st year of use (often a lower cow:bull ratio 15 15 15
50 Average number of cows exposed to per year (not counting 1st year) 35 35 35
51 Number of years exposed to cows (not counting 1st year) 3 3 3
52 Total number of cows exposed to during lifetime 120 120 120
53
54 Average genetic cost, $/cow exposed $18.33 $35.00 $51.67
55 Average maintenance cost, $/cow exposed $20.00 $20.00 $20.00
56 Average total bull breeding cost, $/cow exposed $38.33 $55.00 $71.67
57
58
59 Estimating annual equipment cost per cow Annual
60 Purchase Salvage Maintenance, Years of Number
Item Price, $ Price, $ $ use of cows $/cow/year
61 Squeeze chute $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
62 Tractor $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
63 ATV $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
64 Trailer $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
65 Sprayer $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
66 Grain drill $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
67 Disk $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
68 Truck $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
69 Shredder $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
70 Mineral feeder $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
71 Hay ring $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
72 Feed bunk $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00
73 Enter your own category $0 $0 $0 1 1 $0.00