HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RAISE A COW FOR BEEF! How to raise your own meat!!!!

How much does it cost to raise a cow or beef? In this video, Mike will go over what it costs to feed our family grass fed beef for one year. Sorry, He was a bit off on the numbers in the video, please see below.
Hey there! Welcome to Little Dreamers Farm! We are a family of 5, starting from scratch and building our dream farmhouse while trying to grow our own food, raise our own livestock, and strive toward becoming a self sustainable homestead.
Total cost break down.
$1000 cow calf pair
$35 feed hay through winter
.75 cents per pound at 560 pounds hanging carcass plus the kill fee $65
=485
+$35 for hay/feed
= $520 total processor fee.
Sorry i was $100 off on my mental math the butcher cost was $520 not $615
$ 1520 Total investment
money back to us.
$350 value in bull calf
$560 cash back for selling 160 pounds of ground at $3.50 per pound
= $610 Grand total investment
Thanks for watching!
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[@packattack1762]

We just moved to Oklahoma. Bought some small acreage. Shortly after we got here I saw an older guy two properties down putting up fencing and then one day there were a bunch of cows. Well, that property backs up to my field. So I asked him if he’d be open to running some cattle on my field sort of like paddocks. Anyways, after we talked he offered to help me get the fencing up and prep the land for cows. I’m buy a couple cows and he’s going to run a couple and he’ll do all the transporting. Works out for both of us and I’ll get to raise my own beef. I’m super excited! Thanks for the cost break down! Helps me out a lot

[@MrKtapman1]

Hi can you share any resources on prepping the land for cattle?

[@packattack1762]

Really just get your fencing up and get water out there. 6’ T-posts roughly 12’ apart and set 2’ in ground so there is 48” of post. 5 strands of barbwire at 9” apart so top strand is at 45”. Get water plumbed to the pasture somehow. As far as grass you need to figure out breed of cow and how many cows per acre. We went with midsize Herefords that don’t consume as much grass. Good luck!

[@MrKtapman1]

Thanks very helpful!

[@JustJoshinYouBro]

That's amazing, I was stationed in Oklahoma for 2 years, and I loved it there. Hope your farm is doing well.

[@katherinemosier1277]

Thank you, I just raised my first beef last year. And I calculated our price per pound to be $2.53. So it’s good to know that I’m right in the neighborhood of what it should be.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

That’s great. We enjoy it so much. Thanks for watching

[@k8tina]

@katherine Do you add in the butcher fees to this price per pound cost?

[@k8tina]

@@LittleDreamersFarm The price you sell the beef for sounds like what my friend who has a farm in AL charges me & her friends/family. I just picked up ½ steer beef yesterday and it was $3.52/pound including the butcher fees. We haven't eaten store bought beef in 5 years!

[@kellythomas5596]

Hello Katherine how are you doing today.

[@scottoshea9440]

@@k8tina ya, and the kill fee? Cus if you killed it yourself you'd save like 20 cents a pound. You could bring a big ole pickaxe and smash its skull when you got to the butcher's. Cha ching!

[@appl3jax498]

Thank you so much. I just bought my ranch and homestead. I am planning on buying my first cows this year and this was so informative. So far the butcher that you mentioned is the closest one to me. All the others that I found are much farther away. I just subscribed. Thanks again!

[@smas3256]

Your video is very encouraging. Answering questions and comments is appreciated. Thank you.

[@fullerhomestead2022]

We are just beginning our homesteading journey; thanks for sharing your knowledge and encouragement!

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

You are so welcome!

[@HollerTenn]

Thx man… getting our farm ready to do the same.

[@mntngirl4512]

Hilarious watching your little guy trying to help. 😂. Adorable. That meat looks mighty tasty.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

He’s always ready to help! Thanks for watching!

[@antoniocarlosromerosabalza9881]

Hi buddy. Beside that I just watched this video and it was posted 2 years ago ago it amazing The value that you transmitted here. Thank you and God bless you brother. It will be great if you could make other video with updates and more experiences.

[@hdelano11]

Price is a little misleading. I like the ones that want to start from nothing and raise a beef. You need fence, stall, waterer, hay, grain fed last 60 days, truck, and trailer... That's just a few things. It's no way it's cost efficient to start from zero and raise a beef. The biggest factor not in price is time.

[@curtisrosselot6973]

Shhh they don't want to tell ya that! Most the jokers that do for themselves expect the same people they won't buy beef from to help them along the way! Lmao

[@94villianvp96]

They never factor time, the most important part.

[@LIBERTY0RDEATH]

You also need the land. Unless you inherited a bunch of land that’s going to be very expensive in todays market.

[@msladebeatz]

I wonder why he did respond to your message

[@berntoast3186]

Time is dependent on how you raise your cattle. Costs per head are not dependent on initial investment for fencing etc..

[@ksyifajayabroiler702]

thank you for providing detailed knowledge this is very useful

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

So awesome, God bless you and your FAMILIES ❤

[@jaredaja1943]

awesome video, thank you for sharing the info!

[@hopehealsinternationalmini4291]

Very cool thanks for the video.

[@ehollopeter]

Just bought a 6 month old bull calf yesterday. This is my first time trying to make some money on this. I plan to keep a quarter and sell the other 3/4

[@fruitsyfarms5115]

Excellent video

[@danno1800]

Great video! Thanks - much appreciated…

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Thank you

[@gristlepounder]

I remember my dad specifically buying a freezer in the 1970's to do this very thing.

[@deanwitt8810]

Here are my numbers from last year: cost per finish pound 250# calf @$2.00/#. $1.53 hay fed for 6 months, some grain, minerals .81 fencing & equipment cost spread over 20 years .18 processor is 75 miles away. 2, 150 mile round trips. .15 three animals per trip. processing 1.15 hanging weight 536# finished weight 346# total cost per pound not including labor $3.82 WARNING: See David Lazerz comment on labor before you go out and buy a calf. But the quality of the meat is not even comparable to anything at the grocery.

[@kellythomas5596]

Hello Dean how are you doing today.

[@cjbrooks749]

I live in montana this was awesome guys

[@NOsaint103]

Cool

[@rcsouth]

Thanks

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Thanks for watching

[@tclodfelter8789]

I'd love to do that but the wife has Lupus and red meat kills her. I was just diagnosed with Lone Star Tick Disease so beef is out for me as well! But I LOVE WATCHING! LOL

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

I hate to hear that thanks for watching and god bless!

[@DryRoastedNutz]

In may 2021 I was paying $1.99/lb for 80/20 ground beef. Now it's $4.35 and 75/25 and only Select if we can even find it. I sure wish I had the land to grow out my own calf or two.

[@fu-linghitt57]

Were the cows you bought grass fed? Thank you for your video🙏

[@cdlord80]

Does your butcher offer to give you the hide back? I'm planning to raise a cow for food but also want the hide to do my own tanning and leather working.

[@jaybird4354]

That freezer is over packed... got no air flow 😂 but looks great!

[@rajbanwait325]

God Bless America

[@adrianojames7903]

Will you be using the bull for breeding when he's older ?

[@elizaethforeman249]

Thank you , for the info , but hay here is $ 65 a roll $10 a square bale

[@janedoe3095]

So did you also get the cheeks, tongue, neck bones, shanks, oxtail and organ meats? How about the tallow? I’ve watched a number of these videos by different people and they never seem to detail the parts they get back from the butcher. These aren’t the most popular cuts but they are definitely worth money. In my area beef cheeks cost almost $8 per pound (it is a wonderful cut when cooked right). Ox tail goes for a little more than that. Tongue goes for $5 per pound, liver and neck bones a little less and I’m not sure of price of shanks. The point is, if you’re not getting all the parts back the person who is processing is making more than you realize for cutting up that meat for you because there is no way he is throwing that out. Some would say it isn’t a big deal, but it is because if it hasn’t been specifically agreed upon that he will keep those parts and providing a slightly lower processing fee then I would be wondering what else he might be keeping back for himself. I grew up on a subsistence farm where we butchered our own pigs and cows and it always seems to me that what many people get back on these videos takes up a lot less room in their freezers than our animals used. Maybe we just grew them a little bigger.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Our processor asks us what we would like to keep. We get the cheeks, tongue, organs, etc as well as bones. We’ve found this processor to be exceptional and trustworthy.

[@kellythomas5596]

Hello Jane how are you doing today.

[@calihomesteadingwithpoohbe8904]

Thank you so much for sharing this information. We just bought a little homestead 1.6 and we got our hens and now we are looking to buy a couple of cows. Where we live we have dirt so we will need to buy the straw and that is fine. I just want to know how to get started. What type of fence should I buy? And do you have any advice on the type of cows I should get. I want 1 or 2 for milk and I want 2 for food. I would like to get a bull to keep the cost down from buying cows every year. What do you advice?

[@charlesbunyard5267]

Dexter cattle are best for small homesteading. Dexter cows are dual purpose meat and milk, the meat is awesome

[@joedurban6974]

Hello! Looking to migrate to the Caribbean! Just wondering, is 2acres enough for homestead?

[@curtisrandolph1887]

Hope you get your cow when you pick it up instead of whatever they give you back. I have had bad luck when picking up ours. It was full of maggots. West Texas.

[@Kelly_Mae]

🤢 this is awful

[@1050Bridge]

What happens to the head, cheeks, brains, tongues, shanks, stomach, or other offal cuts?

[@Dave-hc6pp]

I didn’t hear any mention of Vet bills and vaccine. You mentioned some grain when you were finishing. I don’t expect that to be much but I’m curious about the cost. Do you think you fed them more grass and hay than feed? I’m spoiled and prefer beef that’s been grain fed. For me it has a better taste. Great video.

[@Mark_Chandler]

so what do they eat when snows on the ground

[@devinhinkson3798]

Music reminds me of Dave Ramsey podcast

[@skynet55]

That's a pretty good price

[@crumman4299]

Question: if I wanted to start up a beef jerkey business would it eventually be worth it to just grow my own cattle. To make it into a general meat business?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Thanks for watching. Absolutely raising your own cattle is financially the way to go.

[@letsmakestickers19]

How long is the beef good for frozen ?

[@SouthWestIron]

I appreciate the video. I've got a place that I currently lease for really peanuts and I've been wanting to raise a few beefs of my own. One thing I thought of is a temp sensor to keep tabs on that freezer. Thats quite the investment and you'd want to know if that freezer started acting up.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Thanks for the support. I recommend it to everyone it’s so easy and rewarding. The temp sensor is an excellent idea I’ve never thought of that. Thanks for watching

[@iamsomebody7700]

@@LittleDreamersFarm we lost half a cox last month when a GFI outlet popped during a power surge. we figured it out a week later when I opened the chest freezer. A $30 temp alarm would have prevented that loss.

[@tiwariamrita3593]

@@LittleDreamersFarm how selfish u people are ..for ur benefits nd taste u kill innocent living..same day karma back ur family children also killed nd sold for taste nd benefit then u wi realise pain nd importance of life

[@hwnboy925]

@@tiwariamrita3593 plants have feelings too! You should try rocks and wash it down with some petrol oil, you would really make the world a better place for all.

[@mikeanonymous669]

That feature is already offered factory on some brands/models. Thats been around for many decades.

[@carlwood5469]

Grass is not free, neither is veterinary care, mineral and salt, working facilities, truck and trailer to haul your animals. So while you are not far off from a cash outlay perspective, there are significant investments needed as well. While it can be economical for some people to raise their own, your breakdown is a bit misleading.

[@adrianojames7903]

Ground Chuck !! The best tasting hamburger ever .

[@patrickdriscoll7881]

How do you quantify the time for taking care of the cow before butchering?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

That would be hard to quantify! It's worth the time invested either way. Thanks for watching!

[@SimonZimmermann82]

I like the breakdown. But you should add your family hours in getting and raising the cows, the mortgage or land lease costs, the costs of running the freezer for a year depending on the outside temperature, the fuel and running costs of your suburban and after all that and a bit more i didn't mention, you might have a correct price.

[@mohammadasifbokhtyarmuhi2279]

Can we raise brahma cattles in Saskatchewan?

[@TRAPHOUSE36]

How much does it cost for 60 days of grain? Im in Florida

[@keepingupwithjess_]

💪🏾

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

thanks for watching

[@dannyluelee]

In my culture we’d need the muscle of course but also, some of the hide, small intestines, liver, heart, stomach, gallbladder, tail, bones, and head for it to be a complete butcher. My culture makes use of almost the entire animal. I’m hoping to have a homestead in future as well. This video is a great motivator.

[@lorenzojantociii7394]

👍👍👍👍

[@joshadams5448]

What about medicine costs?

[@danielmolinar13]

How much did it cost to feed the cow till it was ready to be butchered?

[@rickross199]

If you've got grass it's great to raise your own beef. It's highly unlikely your beef graded out to be "prime" though, that takes some real special feeding and care. Might not want to advertise you're selling any of it after processing that's illegal thanks to the USDA lol.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Your right I say prime in comparison to what’s available on the shelf lol. Didn’t think about the USDA thing… crap when I say sell I meant give it away to family.

[@rickross199]

@@LittleDreamersFarm USDA is a pain in the ass. Government organizations start out with good intentions then eventually become wasteful bloated and useless. I love seeing people raise their own meat. You could add a hog as well on paddocks with very little land. That's quite a good little helper you guys have lol

[@hyfy-tr2jy]

Seems they left a lot of value back at the butchers.... 1) Suet, the rendered kidney fat is very valuable and useful 2) Soup bones for making beef broth/stock 3) Marrow Bones...again very expensive/valuable 4) Tongue and other useful Offals. depends on personal tastes but all are of value Based on the images you could see in the video I would seriously doubt these steaks would grade as Prime even though the host claims they are

[@christinesherry3442]

I've raised 3 and the first one was so hard on my heart. His name was T bone ( reminder to me) , he was like a huge dog. Walked on a lead rope I could pick up his feet, he was my baby. That meat tasted so different and the other 2. I've been told he was a live beef and that why the taste was different

[@Broxty]

Wtf are you talking about lol...

[@yourself2275]

@@Broxty 🤣🤣🤣

[@rosebatham3342]

It’s best not to befriend those raised for dinner you have pets then you have the … others I’m sorry

[@ak47ronohio]

@@Broxty 😂

[@seadogg1979]

thats a really good price on both kill and processing. my question is how do you know you got your cow back??? and not parts of this cow or that cow or a completely different cow? that is main reason i always processed my own deer.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

That's a big issue with any processor. I'm actually able to watch my cow go though the process if I want. Its really about inspecting and trusting where you take your beef

[@richardfoister1877]

@@LittleDreamersFarm So basically ya don't know unless you watch. Respectively

[@Zack-jj8nn]

@@richardfoister1877 yeah, I’d find a local butcher and buy from them/get to know them before you bring them your beef.

[@richardfoister1877]

@@Zack-jj8nn I don't see nowadays anyone who has access to switch good beef for mediocre pound for pound, wouldn't. I mean it's like gold nowadays, and it's hard to believe nobody isn't going to skim the cream off the top. Tks

[@twinnevans971]

We use blue dye vein and REQUIRE that our butcher provide us with whole cuts. We grind our own beef which is where shortcutters will give you junk meat. Been doing this for 7 years and never once been disappointed. Your best bet is forming a relationship with your butcher.

[@circlethewagons]

Why does it say "Not for resale" on the packages of meat? @ 2:35 And how or why do you resell it ?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Processors are required to label it as such and we provide our friends and family with beef, we don't resell ;)

[@johnnaes3841]

How many acres of grazing land are required for 1 cow maybe 2? Thank you

[@Broxty]

Required? A shed, but you will have to specifically feed store bought.... 2-3 acres is common.

[@kenrehill8775]

Chief Brody: “we’re gonna need a bigger tote”

[@sirparzival9372]

How long does the meat usually last you and how is the quality after months in the freezer?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

It’ll last us 1 year. We have a verticals deep freezer so it doesn’t get freezer Burt at all. It also depends primarily on the packaging. With this type of investment vacuum seal packages is a 100% must. Thanks for watching

[@LoveGuruBlaire]

How long do you keep the cow for? And do you not get attached to it? How do you deal with emotions of feeling bad for killing them or saying goodbye or even not getting nauseous around eating your friend?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Ideally 2 years the meat has good marbling and fat content. It is very hard not to get attached. we have a few that we raise from babies that we keep as pets and our breeding herd. We really love on them. When its time to process one we take it very seriously and pray and thank the animal for everything it is providing us. We try and teach our kids to respect and appreciate the animals in the same way. Thanks for watching

[@kerfymon]

no cow starter feed ??

[@mikerubin290]

Where do I find out laws about if I can raise beef and other animals?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

I recommend contacting your county and asking. It also matters how your land is zoned. Your county will have those answers!

[@chrisspivey3248]

In a bit you could stud the bull out and be in good shape.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

thanks for watching. Oh yes that is our plan

[@jasonouellette7204]

My wife and I are in the process of buying land and talked about raising a few animals for food. How much land do you recommend having for something like this?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

it really doesn't take much id say 2 acres you could have a very nice homestead. 1 acre for a few beef cattle and the rest could be veggie, chickens, and pork. Thanks for weatching

[@jefflee5834]

So 2 acres is plenty for several cows? I was stressing about not having enough land with 9.5 acres and 7 of that being a hay field. We are wanting to raise for our family consumption only so I will definitely have to check into it now.

[@tmanwheeler8270]

@@jefflee5834 from what I’ve seen an acre will do a pair of cows

[@MrMasterMarksman]

An acre a head

[@kingtiger1155]

​@@LittleDreamersFarm can you please draft me a business plan including beef,chicken and pork production on a 16hacters farm....

[@joedurban6974]

How much area do you need to raise one cow? Will one acre be sufficient?

[@RoseNZieg]

I heard people in the comment section said that one or two is good on an acre.

[@Taocat1]

I don't think your estimate is very accurate for a lot of people. In Texas right now, a round bail is going for over $100.

[@susanw4535]

I’m in Texas, just bought 12 bales at $45 each

[@gerrylarson3675]

What flavor did you feed for?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Usually I feed corn 30-45 days out. It gives a more commercial taste id say. straight grass fed cow will taste kind of like a wild cow. you will get a touch of different flavor that were not accustom to eating. But even the grass fed beef in the grocery stores are allowed to feed grain so many days before butcher. That's why a 100% true grass fed cow will taste completely different than your grass beef packaged beef at Kroger. Thanks for watching

[@matthewhenderson1730]

"Prime"grade is under 24 months,and substantial marbeling,a cow won t meet either of those criteria.You should have castrated the bull calf and bred the cow back.You would be better off buying 2 feeders and let them compete and will grow faster.

[@msullivan214]

How many hours per week on average are you spending on your cattle?

[@94villianvp96]

People never factor time, the most important part!

[@smadden911]

So you have "Herd shares"..😉 That's how the beef gets sold off farm.

[@melj7075]

How come you didnt keep mom cow and just breed her for your beef?

[@etcomandog]

Nothing free

[@johnlim123]

You didn't buy any feed? Grain?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Yes we feed them grain towards the last 3-4 weeks maybe just 5-6 bags

[@scottoshea9440]

If I tried raising animals for meat I'd end up being a vegetarian. Would name them and they'd eventually become my pets. Us city folk are weird about animals

[@crystalh6570]

Stupid question... Does the beef end up having any of that 'wild' taste to it?

[@robertcraft1030]

Absolutely. That is the best part. It will taste like whatever you feed it.

[@jalifritz8033]

Cost will probably rise with the war in Ukraine considering that around 25 percent of all grains worldwide are produced there. Animal feed and animal products as a result will rise,hopefully it won’t affect you.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

We have noticed a substantial rise in feed costs already, and will be looking into more sustainable methods to feed our animals! Thank you for watching!

[@jalifritz8033]

@@LittleDreamersFarm sorry to hear that

[@danilobmalitjr8339]

Wow 2$ wow

[@andrewtroutman6055]

Why kill the cow? Smarter to keep the cow to breed. Make the bull calf a steer and kill it. Buy you a decent bull to use for breeding. I’m sure her meat wasn’t very tender due to age and stress of raising a calf.

[@marypoppins9077]

Do you live in Ky?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

We are in north Georgia.

[@bradb5723]

How many acres of pasture are they on? How many cows per acre?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

I like to 1-2 cows on an acre. 6-8 months and younger count as 1/2. Thanks for watching

[@seadogg1979]

@stan YOUR an IDIOT. banker costs so full of it.

[@countalucard4226]

Did you become attached to the cow?

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Lets just say it's never easy, but we know our cows have had a better life than the ones that end up in the supermarket.

[@d.scotklute9489]

Definitely not a mathematician, but he tried. Ok vid

[@rndoltappl318]

Just keep in mind everything is more cost today

[@LoveGuruBlaire]

Why does it say not for resale on the package? If you wanted to resell it, couldn't you? It's your cow.

[@daviddixon7613]

USDA says he cannot legally sell it.

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

David is correct. We cant technically resale any meat. The processor is only legally able to process our cow for our personally consumption. Its a lot of government red tape and tax stuff.

[@sethbuchanan8438]

@@LittleDreamersFarm the butcher isn't USDA inspected. if you go to a butcher that is you can sell it.

[@kevind7617]

Bet y'alls youngin is the only 1 his age that knows "Wheres the Beef"

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Lol yes sir!

[@giovanni545]

please check this verse is very informative in the 2 characteristc of a saint Revelation 14:12 (King James Version) 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

[@kenrehill8775]

“We’re going for the beef!” Kid picks his nose. That’s all the protein you need buddy.

[@louthomas1420]

That’s hilarious how much to raise your own beef !!!! one round bale.

[@drizztdourden5291]

Ill charge you 25 to kill it. Lol

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

I know right! Thanks for watching apparently it’s required for state requirements etc..

[@kevind7617]

25 is cheap considering the current price of ammo.. if you can find it

[@drizztdourden5291]

@@kevind7617 there some at my shooting range.

[@kevind7617]

@@drizztdourden5291 pretty sure I wont like the prices

[@DarlnDar]

Howzzzzz it goin' with ***O-BIDEN ECONIC!!!???***

[@joemama8379]

Very easily distracted

[@curtisrosselot6973]

Did you add in price of land, truck/trailer, fence, water, barns, meds, a shoot or vet fees if needed, and the list of other potential expenses that can come from raising livestock? Shhh they don't want to tell ya that! Most the jokers that do it for themselves expect the same people they won't buy beef from to help them along the way! 🤣

[@novaui4014]

What a great little helper you got there.🦸

[@LittleDreamersFarm]

Yes he is. Thank you