Where is the most economical place to cattle/sheep ranch?

Question

Where is the most economical place to cattle/sheep ranch?

Answer 1

In the United States, I would say it is either Texas, Oklahoma or maybe Missouri.  Texas has the most cattle and sheep of the three.  Land per animal unit grazed will still be cheaper in Texas or Oklahoma, not as sure about MO.  You will have to shop around.  But you can grow grass for most of the year in any of these locations, as long as you are on the humid side of each state.  Texas will be more bermuda grass/wheat-rye/ryegrass, oklahoma will be bermuda-prairie/rye-wheat/ryegrass, and Missouri will be more fescue based.  So your main considerations are what you can grow, how long you can grow it, and the price of land.  Cost of machinery and inputs will be similar everywhere else.  Shop around and negotiate before you come to any final conclusions, But generally somewhere in the central/south central US will get you the most value for your ranch.  Texas has the best markets for light weight sheep after New Holland Pennsylvania.