Cost of raising cattle in Wyoming

Wyoming is one of the most extensive cow-calf states in the US, with roughly 1.28 million beef cows spread across about 5,400 operations according to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture. Average herd size approaches 237 head, placing Wyoming well above the national average and squarely in the mid-to-large operator range. Angus and Angus-cross cattle dominate the state, with Hereford and Red Angus genetics common in higher-elevation and northern ranges where hardiness and foraging ability matter more than finishing weight.

The state sits in a cold semi-arid (BSk) climate zone, with elevations from 3,100 to over 7,000 feet across working rangeland. Winters are long and dry, with feeding seasons commonly running 150 to 180 days. University of Wyoming Extension budgets estimate mature cows need 25-30 pounds of hay per day through the feeding season, translating to roughly 2-2.5 tons per cow. With 2023 Wyoming alfalfa hay prices averaging near $200 per ton, harvested forage alone drives $400-$500 per cow before any pasture or supplement costs.

Pasture economics in Wyoming differ sharply from Corn Belt states because of low rangeland productivity. USDA NASS reported 2023 non-irrigated pasture cash rent at $6.50 per acre, but typical stocking rates of 25 to 40 acres per animal unit on shortgrass range push per-cow pasture cost into the $165-$285 range depending on county and forage quality. Combined with labor near $275 per cow — reflecting the extensive miles and hours required to manage dispersed herds — Wyoming cow-calf total cash costs land near $1,210 per head per year, consistent with USDA ERS regional cost-and-returns estimates for the Basin and Range cow-calf region.