Why arent ranchers filthy rich?

Question

They have their cows hanging around, eating grass all day and getting fat and then selling them. What expenses do they even have?

Answer 1

They are all rich. They just play with their horses and watch cows get fat. On top of all the government subsidies. You should buy a ranch

Answer 2

have you ever lived on a ranch or country, believe me it takes alot to take care of some cows. you got shots and sprays and hay and feed and lots of of c**p u gotta do just to take care of cows..........its not easy money like ppl make it seem...unless you were already rich to begin with

Answer 3

usually they dont just feed grass, they have to buy hay, corn, and some other types of food for their animals depending on what they raise them for.  they have to pay for vaccinations, and vet bills, they have to buy gas and desil fuel if they make their own crops clean manure and other things, if they milk cows they have to pay for hauling, and milking supplies.

they also have to pay insurance and property taxes, which are a lot.  they also have to use the money on themselves for food and stuff.

people who become ranchers dont do it for the money, they do it cause they like it usually

Answer 4

Ranchers have TONS of expenses. Cattle need care ... just like your family pets. Veterinary care is not cheap. They also need extra food, during the winter grass is either not enough, it does not have enough nutritional value, or it is covered up. Hay, feed, extra pasture, etc... is also VERY expensive especially now that farmers are having to compete for corn with ethanol companies. Cattle can also not just eat grass and grow fat on it, the market has turned towards lean meat (Ie less fat on the carcass) they are also leaning towards meat that "fits the box" (ie the cattle can not get too big or too small ) the meatpackers dont want to have to cut the meat a lot they want all of it to fit the boxes they have pre-made. Farmers have to keep up the genetics of their herd usually buying top of the line replacement heifers and using AI ($15 + a straw/breed). They also have to pay for any labor they have hired, fencing they have, barns, electricity, and themselves. To sum it is cattle farmers have tons of bills to pay they only get about a $1 or so per pound of the animal, but sometimes pay out much more. They obviously dont get even close to the amount of money they sell the steaks in the grocery store. I know this is kinda a long answer but there are Undergraduate degrees on this.

These "ranchers" are the heart of America and I hope you can now have a new respect for what they do to feed America.

You question should be how do they get by?

Answer 5

Well think about it... what does it take to get those cows fat and healthy? You need good land.

What about in the winter? The land isnt growing. You have to buy hay and with the last drought, hay prices have gone through the roof. Over $400-$600 for a bail.

What about reproducing? You have to have a good quality of cow to reproduce something that doesnt have a history or diseases. Not to mention the medical expensies.

Also think about that if you have a job while ranching that taking care of them isnt easy. You can have hired help but thats another expence.

Answer 6

Its is a good question whit a sort of complicated answer  ranchers are rich because cows can be feed grass like u say and that almost free it grows everywhere so its cheap but modern more industrialized use food supplements so the cows grow big fast so the only problem is making sure u don st sell all cows so u can "multiply them" or u can just buy them depends on budget's and things like that.Any way the bottom line is that people like eating meat so they will keep making money