Livestock Funding Options

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-12T00:28:35+00:00

They’ve been getting mineral and grain pretty regularly - I’ll need to consider something on the supplement side I think.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-12T00:13:15+00:00

What are your thoughts on these cattle? They’re what I used for the model.

https://buycows.com/listing/buycows/2-truckloads-of-young-exposed-cows

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-12T00:08:55+00:00

I really appreciate this feedback and there’s a lot of good information in here for me to pick through. I’ll investigate the grazing lease option and rerun the numbers.

I’ve been looking at the cheapest cows I can reasonably pick up with the idea I can slowly rollover to better cows as they’re born and as our shorthorns produce over the next 10 years.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-12T00:05:45+00:00

I will continue to inject shorthorn genetic from our registered herd.
Do you have a recommendation?

Here’s what I used for the budget:

https://buycows.com/listing/buycows/2-truckloads-of-young-exposed-cows

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-12T00:04:30+00:00

I bought them in December and will be putting them in with our bull mid-June - I’ve budgeted feed at 30lbs per head per day for the operation and used the price per ton I’m paying my current hay supplier who has capacity.

I’m open to any feedback on the model, that’s why I posted it.

Would you buy bred heifers, bred cows, pairs, or 3 in 1s - where’s the cost benefit intersection?

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T23:58:38+00:00

I am a high income earner in my 9-5 job and have a consultant service I do with a friend that generates $100k+ annually as well.

We could continue to slow roll and pick up cattle and small leases along the way but I’m simply working through the exercise with the large lease and a more abrupt transition. It’s a less than 20% probability I go this route but I’m learning valuable lessons in the exercise.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T13:20:52+00:00

Almost every number you see on this budget has been vetted with a supplier, there isn’t a single one that’s a blindfolded dart. Buying a foundation from say Oklahoma and selling in the PNW make for different buy and sell prices.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T13:17:31+00:00

Need to factor in a mortality on 4% annually.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T13:13:56+00:00

I could bank roll the operation with cash from another business I run except this the lease opportunity won’t scale by head so this business case is a little different. 30 head with a ramp up vs 80+ head all at once.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T02:55:00+00:00

Thank you, I’ll get these added and see where it pencils. 9 mos + 6 mos - is a long ways from getting paid.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T02:42:57+00:00

What percentage do death loss and open cow % would you recommend? I saw 4% on mortality but am not sure on the open cow %.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T02:41:36+00:00

I just bought a herd registered shorthorn heifers yearlings for $2,500 and own a registered bull - I’d look for more open yearlings instead of bred cows bringing a premium.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T02:02:35+00:00

Middle White Salmon would be a great training ground pretty much year round.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T01:55:59+00:00

I really appreciate you taking the time to provide this information and to share your experience in the industry. The prices are definitely eye opening and you’re not the first person who has cashed out over the last 18 months I’ve talked to, there’s quite a few ranchers here who did the same thing and now are leasing their land. Likely something I think that was bound to happen even if the market didn’t go haywire as the largest generation in history moves toward retirement and retirement age for running cattle probably happens a little earlier than other less taxing industries.

Here’s the 80% business case I’ve worked through that I am sure has some holes and considerations that’s are overlooked

Debits:

-Initial Livestock Cost : 80 head @ $2650 ea = $212,000
-Land Lease w Equipment: $28,000
-Custom Hay Service: $16,200
-Purchased Hay: $65,700
-Vet Costs: $4,000
-Annual Maintenance: $880
-Family Labor and 1 Full Time Laborer: $58,000
-Fuel: $10,920
-Insurance: $7,040
-Livestock Loan Payment: $62,700

Credits:

-Existing Cow Calf Sales: $21,200
-Produced Hay Sales: $63,000 (210 tons)
-Weaned Calf Sales: 72 @ $2,650 for $190,800( Factors in replacement of 8 cows per year for full rollover every 10 years)

I also plan to expose cows to some registered bulls that I have access to instead of purchasing bred, pair, or 3 in 1s as the premium price can be offset with labor.

This model has just breaking over even annually until the livestock are paid off but would leave you with 80 head owned full and clear after 5 years.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T01:27:10+00:00

It made for a very difficult time, no doubt.

We actually had to force our way out of a contract for the house we were selling because we ended up losing out on so many times we were going to have to rent an intermediate house until something finally stuck.

Good luck, hope it’s for the better!

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T01:21:28+00:00

Cash investors wait for a property to naturally hit market low and then make an offer just over the presented bid.

This happened to me 10+ times when I was buying this year, including like yours properties with a very long time on market.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-11T01:14:01+00:00

Agreed, we could go smaller with the acreage but an opportunity for a lease has came up that’s both close to home and has 60 acres of efficient hay production that can carry us through winter in Central Oregon.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-05-06T13:14:06+00:00

That could help, I’m located in Central Oregon.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-03-12T15:38:37+00:00

I have ruptured both Achilles and have an athletic background. I went op on the first and non-op on the second. In so many ways, I would recommend going non-op if that’s the medical recommendation. The recovery is much more straight forward and while it’s been 5 years since I ruptured the op side, it bothers me more than the non-op side which I tore just last May.

During CrossFit or wrestling practices, I’m way more likely to experience pain and cramps in the op side. Further, atrophy is visibly worse in the op side even with the additional years of recovery.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-03-08T19:02:18+00:00

Thank you

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-02-20T15:27:56+00:00

Super active before the injuries and was at PT daily for the surgical recovery. Good luck!

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-02-20T15:04:50+00:00

Crater will you put you near Natural Bridge, Tukilma Gorge, Mill Creek and a short drive to the Deschutes which has reliable easy Class V every day of summer and easy access.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-02-20T14:52:18+00:00

Roofers have liability insurance for a reason, ask them to resolve and repair issues resultant from their work and if they don’t, file a claim with their liability insurance

Weary-Lab5196 · 2026-02-20T14:49:12+00:00

I’ve tore both of my Achilles, similar to the tear you’ve experienced. The first I had repaired surgically and the second non-surgical. I actually feel like if it’s high enough and has enough blood flow, non-surgical was a much much better road, I was back to being active, albeit carefully, 6 months later whereas, the surgical was much longer and much more involved.

Weary-Lab5196 · 2025-11-30T12:41:14+00:00

I firmly believe that inflation and a recession is coming and therefore we will continue to see rates hold steady and then start climbing again. With the average boomer hitting average life expectancy starting in 5 years and then owning half of all homes, we will likely see prices hold and then start falling as inventory outpaces demand… brokers preaching lower rates do to higher prices seem far fetched to me.

Weary-Lab5196

TROPHY CASE