# Cost of raising cattle in Oregon

> Raising a beef cow in Oregon costs approximately $1,092 per head per year in cash costs, driven primarily by winter hay feeding and pasture lease rates that run above the western regional average.

**Headline:** $1,092 per head/year

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Feed and hay | $412 |
| Pasture and grazing lease | $287 |
| Labor | $178 |
| Veterinary and medicine | $94 |
| Miscellaneous (fuel, repairs, supplies) | $121 |

## Detail

Oregon's cow-calf sector is concentrated east of the Cascade Range, where high desert rangeland in Harney, Malheur, Lake, and Baker counties supports the majority of the state's roughly 1.3 million head beef inventory. Angus and Angus-Hereford cross cows dominate the genetics base, selected for their ability to winter on sagebrush-steppe range and convert lower-quality forage efficiently. Typical operations in this region run 300 to 800 mother cows, fitting squarely in the mid-size cow-calf bracket.

Feed is the single largest line item at roughly $412 per head per year, driven by a long winter hay feeding period. East of the Cascades, producers commonly feed hay 120 to 150 days per year because snow cover eliminates winter grazing, while Willamette Valley operators feed only 60 to 90 days. Pasture and grazing lease costs add another $287 per head; USDA NASS reported Oregon non-irrigated pasture rents averaged $13.50 per acre in 2023, with irrigated pasture at $113 per acre, both higher than the broader Mountain region average.

Labor runs about $178 per head given Oregon's agricultural wage rates, and veterinary and medicine expenses average near $94 per head, reflecting routine vaccination protocols, pregnancy checking, and branding. Miscellaneous cash costs including fuel, repairs, utilities, and supplies contribute roughly $121 per head. Summed together, total cash costs land near $1,092 per head per year, consistent with USDA ERS Basin and Range region cow-calf budgets and Oregon State University Extension enterprise budgets for 2022 and 2023. These figures exclude depreciation, opportunity cost on land and capital, and unpaid operator labor.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the typical pasture lease rate in Oregon?

Oregon non-irrigated pasture rented for an average of $13.50 per acre in 2023, while irrigated pasture averaged $113 per acre, both above the Mountain region average.

### How long is the winter hay feeding season in Oregon?

Most Oregon cow-calf operators east of the Cascades feed hay 120 to 150 days per year due to snow cover, while Willamette Valley operators typically feed 60 to 90 days.

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

Angus and Angus-Hereford crosses dominate Oregon cow-calf herds, with Red Angus and Charolais crosses common in the high desert counties of Harney, Malheur, and Lake.

## Sources

1. USDA ERS Cow-Calf Production Costs and Returns, Basin and Range Region (2023) — https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/
2. USDA NASS Oregon Cash Rents Survey (2023) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Oregon/Publications/
3. Oregon State University Extension Beef Cattle Budgets (2022) — https://extension.oregonstate.edu/animals-livestock/beef

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