# Cost of raising cattle in Utah

> Utah cow-calf operators spend roughly $1,185 per cow annually to maintain a breeding female, with feed and pasture accounting for over 60% of total cash costs in the Mountain region.

**Headline:** $1,185 per head/year

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Feed and hay | $485 per head/year |
| Pasture and grazing lease | $245 per head/year |
| Labor | $210 per head/year |
| Veterinary and medicine | $95 per head/year |
| Miscellaneous (fuel, repairs, supplies) | $150 per head/year |

## Detail

Utah sits in the USDA Basin and Range production region, a semi-arid high-desert climate zone where cow-calf operators depend heavily on a mix of irrigated alfalfa hay, private pasture, and federal grazing allotments. According to USDA ERS cost-and-return estimates for the Basin and Range region, total cash costs for maintaining a beef cow ran near $1,185 per head in 2023, with feed costs (hay, supplement, and purchased feed) representing the single largest line item at roughly $485 per head.

Pasture and grazing lease expense is the defining cost variable in Utah. USDA NASS reported Utah private non-irrigated grazing land leased at approximately $19.50 per animal-unit-month in 2024, while federal BLM and Forest Service allotments charged the statutory minimum of $1.35 per AUM. Operators running 200-2000 head typically blend deeded ground, state trust land, and federal permits, which is why effective pasture cost per head averages around $245 per year rather than the sticker price of either extreme.

Angus and Angus-Hereford cross (Black Baldy) cattle dominate Utah herds, selected for their fleshing ability on sparse rangeland and tolerance of wide diurnal temperature swings common to the Great Basin. While Utah's average beef cow herd size sits near 40 head per NASS, commercial production is concentrated among larger operators in Box Elder, Rich, Millard, and Cache counties, where 200-2000 head outfits account for the majority of the state's roughly 335,000 beef cows. Labor costs for these operations average near $210 per head, veterinary and medicine expense runs around $95, and miscellaneous cash costs including fuel, repairs, and supplies total roughly $150 per head annually per Utah State University Extension enterprise budgets.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does it cost to lease pasture in Utah?

Utah private grazing land leased for approximately $19.50 per animal-unit-month in 2024, while federal AUM rates on BLM and Forest Service allotments were $1.35, per USDA NASS.

### How large is a typical Utah cow-calf herd?

Utah's average beef cow herd is around 40 head, but commercial operators in the 200-2000 head range dominate total inventory, concentrated in Box Elder, Rich, and Millard counties.

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

Angus and Hereford genetics dominate Utah herds, with Black Angus and Angus-Hereford (Black Baldy) crosses most common due to their adaptability to the state's semi-arid high-desert climate.

## 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 — Grazing Fees by State (Utah) (2024) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/land0824.pdf
3. Utah State University Extension — Utah Cow-Calf Enterprise Budget (2023) — https://extension.usu.edu/agribusiness/enterprise-budgets

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