# Cost of raising cattle in Nebraska

> University of Nebraska-Lincoln budgets put total annual cow-calf cost in Nebraska at roughly $1,067 per cow in 2024, with feed and pasture accounting for over 60% of the total.

**Headline:** $1,067 per head/year

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Feed and hay | $383 per head/year |
| Pasture and lease | $285 per head/year |
| Labor | $185 per head/year |
| Veterinary and health | $52 per head/year |
| Miscellaneous (fuel, repairs, supplies) | $162 per head/year |

## Detail

Nebraska is the second-largest beef cow state in the US, with approximately 1.83 million beef cows as of January 2024 according to USDA NASS. Cow-calf operations concentrate in the Sandhills, Panhandle, and north-central counties, where native rangeland supports herds typically ranging from 200 to 2,000 head. The state sits in USDA hardiness zones 4b-5b with a semi-arid to humid-continental climate, driving high winter hay requirements from roughly November through April.

According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 2023 Nebraska Farm Business Inc. cow-calf enterprise analysis, total annual cost per cow averaged approximately $1,067, with feed (hay, supplement, and grain) at about $383 and pasture costs near $285 per head. Labor ran approximately $185 per cow and veterinary expenses averaged $52, reflecting the extensive grazing model common on Sandhills ranches where stocking rates of 20-30 acres per pair are typical.

Angus and Angus-cross genetics dominate Nebraska cow herds, with Red Angus, Hereford, and SimAngus composites well represented in the Sandhills and western Panhandle. Pasture rental rates averaged $27.50 per acre statewide in 2024 per USDA NASS cash rent surveys, though rates vary widely between eastern cropland-edge pasture and western rangeland. Operators running 200-2,000 head should budget approximately $1,000-$1,100 per cow annually before accounting for depreciation and return to management.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the typical pasture rental rate in Nebraska?

USDA NASS reported Nebraska cow-calf pasture rent averaged $27.50 per acre in 2024, with Sandhills ranches typically needing 20-30 acres per cow-calf pair.

### How many cattle does Nebraska have?

Nebraska had approximately 1.83 million beef cows as of January 2024 per USDA NASS, ranking second nationally behind Texas.

### What breeds dominate Nebraska cow-calf operations?

Angus and Angus-cross cattle dominate, with Red Angus, Hereford, and Simmental-Angus (SimAngus) composites common in the Sandhills and Panhandle.

## Sources

1. UNL Nebraska Farm Business Inc. Cow-Calf Enterprise Analysis (2024) — https://cap.unl.edu/livestock/2023-nebraska-farm-business-inc-cow-calf-enterprise-analysis
2. USDA NASS Cattle Inventory - Nebraska (2024) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Nebraska/Publications/Livestock/2024/NE-Cattle-01-24.pdf
3. USDA NASS Cash Rents by County - Nebraska Pasture (2024) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Nebraska/Publications/County_Estimates/2024/NE-Cash-Rents-08-24.pdf

---

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