# Cost of raising cattle in Maine

> Raising a beef cow in Maine costs roughly $1,312 per head per year in a cow-calf operation, driven mainly by winter hay feeding across the state's long 6-month housing season.

**Headline:** $1,312 per head/year

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Feed and hay | $612 per head/year |
| Pasture and lease | $138 per head/year |
| Labor | $284 per head/year |
| Veterinary and health | $96 per head/year |
| Miscellaneous (bedding, fuel, repairs) | $182 per head/year |

## Detail

Maine sits in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3b through 6a, meaning cow-calf operators face one of the longest winter confinement periods in the continental United States. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension reports that most Maine beef herds are housed and hay-fed for 180 to 200 days per year, roughly six months, which pushes stored-feed costs well above the national Northern Crescent regional average tracked by USDA ERS.

The dominant breeds on Maine cow-calf operations are Angus, Hereford, and Angus-Hereford crosses, with a growing presence of Simmental and Charolais terminal sires, per University of Maine Extension beef production guidance. Average herd size statewide is approximately 16 head per farm according to USDA NASS Maine cattle inventory data, so any operator running 200 to 2000 head is operating at a scale several multiples above the state median and can negotiate better hay and mineral pricing.

Pasture economics in Maine are shaped by rocky glacial soils and short grazing windows. USDA NASS reported 2024 non-irrigated pasture cash rent in Maine at approximately $22 per acre, substantially below the US average, but stocking rates of 1.5 to 2.5 acres per cow-calf pair offset that lower per-acre rate. Combined with hay costs and labor from USDA ERS Northern Crescent cost-of-production data, total annual cost per head lands near $1,312, with feed and hay alone accounting for nearly half of the budget.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How many months of hay feeding should a Maine operator budget for?

Maine's USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3b-6a and short grazing season typically require 180-200 days of stored hay feeding, roughly double the cost burden of southern cow-calf states.

### What is the average beef cow herd size in Maine?

Maine beef operations average about 16 head per farm according to USDA NASS, so 200-2000 head operators are among the largest in the state and benefit from bulk hay and mineral purchasing.

### What pasture rental rates apply in Maine?

USDA NASS reported Maine non-irrigated pasture cash rent at roughly $22 per acre in 2024, well below the national average, reflecting lower stocking rates on rough northern New England ground.

## Sources

1. USDA ERS Cow-Calf Cost of Production, Northern Crescent region (2024) — https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/
2. USDA NASS Maine Agricultural Statistics, Cattle Inventory and Cash Rents (2024) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Maine/
3. University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Beef Production Budgets (2023) — https://extension.umaine.edu/livestock/beef/

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