# Cost of raising cattle in Georgia

> Georgia cow-calf operators spend roughly $912 per cow per year in total cash costs, driven primarily by purchased feed and hay, pasture maintenance, and labor on humid-subtropical fescue and bermudagrass forage.

**Headline:** $912 per head/year

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Feed and hay | $385 per head/year |
| Pasture and lease | $175 per head/year |
| Labor | $190 per head/year |
| Veterinary and health | $62 per head/year |
| Miscellaneous (fuel, repairs, supplies) | $100 per head/year |

## Detail

Raising cattle in Georgia costs approximately $912 per head per year for a commercial cow-calf operator, based on UGA Extension Bulletin 1392 cow-calf budgets and USDA ERS Southeast regional cost-and-returns data. Feed and hay represent the single largest line item at roughly $385 per cow, reflecting the need to supplement bermudagrass and tall fescue pasture through winter dormancy from December through February.

Georgia's humid subtropical climate (USDA zones 7b to 9a) allows a longer grazing season than northern states, which keeps pasture and lease costs near $175 per head on improved bermudagrass, bahiagrass, and fescue. However, the same warmth drives higher veterinary spend — about $62 per head — for internal parasite control, horn fly and face fly management, and anaplasmosis prevention that northern herds rarely encounter. Angus and Angus-cross cattle dominate the state, with Brangus and Brahman-influenced genetics common south of the fall line for heat tolerance.

According to the 2022 USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, Georgia had roughly 1.0 million head of cattle and calves across about 17,000 beef cow operations, with an average herd size near 30 head; commercial operators in the 200 to 2,000 head range represent a small share of farms but a majority of inventory. Labor costs run about $190 per cow for operations at that scale, and miscellaneous cash costs — fuel, equipment repairs, mineral, and supplies — add roughly $100 per head, consistent with UGA Extension's 2023 budget templates for spring-calving herds.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the average herd size in Georgia?

Georgia cow-calf operations average about 30 head statewide, but commercial operators typically run 200 to 2,000 head on improved bermudagrass and tall fescue pasture.

### What breeds dominate Georgia cow-calf herds?

Angus and Angus-cross cattle dominate, with Brangus, Hereford, and Brahman-influenced cattle common in south Georgia for heat and humidity tolerance.

### How does Georgia's climate affect cattle costs?

Georgia sits in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 9a with humid subtropical conditions, reducing winter hay needs compared to the Midwest but raising parasite and fly control costs.

## Sources

1. USDA ERS Cow-Calf Production Costs and Returns, Southeast Region (2023) — https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/
2. University of Georgia Extension Bulletin 1392, Cow-Calf Budgets (2023) — https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1392
3. USDA NASS 2022 Census of Agriculture, Georgia State Profile (2022) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Census_by_State/Georgia/

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