# Cost of raising cattle in Alabama

> Alabama cow-calf operators spend roughly $915 per bred cow per year in cash costs, driven primarily by hay and purchased feed during the winter feeding period from December through March.

**Headline:** $915 per head/year

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Feed and hay | $385/head/year |
| Pasture and lease | $205/head/year |
| Labor | $140/head/year |
| Veterinary and health | $75/head/year |
| Miscellaneous (fuel, repairs, supplies) | $110/head/year |

## Detail

Alabama sits in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7b through 9a, with a humid subtropical climate that supports a 200-to-250-day grazing season on warm-season forages. The state's cow-calf sector is concentrated in the Black Belt and Wiregrass regions, where improved bermudagrass and bahiagrass pastures dominate. Angus, Brangus, and Hereford are the most common breeds, with Brahman-influenced crosses used along the Gulf Coast for heat tolerance, per Alabama Cooperative Extension System guidance.

According to USDA ERS Commodity Costs and Returns for the Southeast region, total cash costs for cow-calf operations run roughly $900 to $950 per bred cow per year, with feed (including purchased hay during the December-to-March winter feeding window) representing the single largest line item at about $385 per head. Pasture and lease costs average near $205 per head given Alabama's 2023 non-irrigated pasture cash rent of approximately $22 per acre reported by USDA NASS and stocking rates of 1.5 to 2.5 acres per pair.

Typical Alabama herds range from 30 to 100 head on the small end, but commercial operations in the 200-to-2000-head range common to this analysis achieve lower per-head labor costs, near $140 per head per year, through economies of scale. Veterinary and health expenses average $75 per head, covering vaccinations, deworming, and fly control — the latter particularly important in Alabama's humid climate. Miscellaneous costs including fuel, equipment repair, mineral supplementation, and supplies add another $110 per head, bringing total annual cash costs to approximately $915 per head based on USDA ERS Southeast regional data.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the average pasture rental rate in Alabama?

USDA NASS reported Alabama non-irrigated pasture cash rent at approximately $22 per acre in 2023, among the lower rates in the Southeast.

### How many acres per cow-calf pair are needed in Alabama?

Alabama Cooperative Extension recommends 1.5 to 2.5 acres of improved bermudagrass or bahiagrass pasture per cow-calf pair, depending on soil fertility and region.

### What are the dominant cattle breeds in Alabama?

Angus, Brangus, and Hereford dominate Alabama cow-calf herds, with Brahman-influenced crosses common in the Gulf Coast region for heat and parasite tolerance.

## Sources

1. USDA NASS Cash Rents by County — Alabama (2023) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/cashrent23.pdf
2. USDA ERS Cow-Calf Production Costs and Returns (Southeast Region) (2023) — https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/
3. Alabama Cooperative Extension System — Beef Cattle Production (2022) — https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/beef/

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Source: Vellum — https://vellum.app/cost-of-raising-cattle/alabama