This basic calculator will help you calculate the cost to develop replacement heifers. It is adapted from the Replacement Heifer Calculator by Western Beef Development Centre, now known as the Forage and Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit of the University of Saskatchewan's Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
Disclaimer: This calculator is provided without warranty on an "as is" basis. BCRC assumes no liability or responsibility with respect to loss or damage caused by or alleged to be caused by the use of this calculator.
Based on the details provided, your bred replacement heifers need to sell for /head
User Guide
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Input data. Enter information in the yellow highlighted cells below.
Winter feed cost - enter total winter feed cost (option #1) OR enter ration information and feed prices (option #2). If data is entered in both options, the calculator will use the number in Option #1.
Annual bull feed costs - include total cost for winter feed, grazing, bedding, salt & mineral for one bull.
Yardage - yardage per head per day during winter-feeding period. Include fuel, machinery repair, building maintenance, custom work, labour, taxes, depreciation, lease payment, etc.
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Results.
Subtotal heifer development costs - include opportunity cost, feed and bedding costs, grazing cost, breeding cost and other costs for heifers being developed.
Adjust for conception - the subtotal Heifer Development costs is divided by conception rate, meaning that the bred heifers will bear the cost of developing the opens.
Adjust for open heifer sale - the cost to develop bred heifers will be decreased by the estimated revenues from the sale of the opens.
Project market price of open heifer - check with local market prices and Livestock Price Insurance settlement pricing or use Canfax's online app for price projection.
Cost per bred heifer - subtotal heifer development costs adjusted for conception, plus revenue from selling open heifers.
Pie chart - shows composition of subtotal of heifer development cost before adjustment for conception and opens.
INPUT DATA
| 1. HERD INFORMATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of heifers being developed | ||||||
| Weaning weight of heifers | lb | |||||
| Weaning date | Assumes heifers go immediately onto backgrounding diet | |||||
| Spring pasture turn-out date | ||||||
| TOTAL WINTER FEEDING DAYS | days | |||||
| 2. OPPORTUNITY COST | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Est. market price for calves $/lb | $/lb | |||||
| OPPORTUNITY COST | $/hd | |||||
| 3. FEED & BEDDING COST | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Winter feed cost (If data is entered in both options, the calculator will use the number in Option #1.) Enter total winter feed cost (option #1) OR enter ration information and feed prices (option #2). If data is entered in both options, the calculator will use the number in Option #1. | ||||||
| Option #1. Enter total winter feed cost | $/hd/yr | |||||
| OR | ||||||
| Option #2. Enter information below to calculate total winter feed cost Enter basic ration details for the heifers: Forage lb/hd/d X price/lb Grain lb/hd fed X price/lb | ||||||
| Feed Stuff | Quantity (as fed) | Price | $/hd/yr | |||
| lb/hd/d | ✕ | $/lb | ||||
| lb/hd/d | ✕ | $/lb | ||||
| lb/hd/d | ✕ | $/lb | ||||
| lb/hd/d | ✕ | $/lb | ||||
| lb/hd/d | ✕ | $/lb | ||||
| Total winter feed cost | $/hd/yr | If data is entered in both option #1 and #2, the calculator will use the number in Option #1. | ||||
| 3.2 Bedding, salt and mineral | ||||||
| Bedding (straw, woodchip, sawdust etc.) | lbs/hd/yr | ✕ | $/lb | |||
| Salt & Mineral | $/hd/yr | |||||
| TOTAL FEED & BEDDING COST | $/hd/yr | |||||
| 4. GRAZING COST | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grazing cost per day What is the market value or actual price paid for grazing for the heifers? Also enter the number of days they grazed. | $/hd/day | |||||
| Grazing days | days | |||||
| TOTAL GRAZING COST | $/hd/yr | |||||
| 5. BREEDING COST | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price of heifer bull | $/hd | |||||
| # heifers serviced per year | hd/yr | |||||
| # years used | yrs | |||||
| Cull weight | lbs | |||||
| Cull price | $/lb | |||||
| Annual bull maintenance cost (feed, bedding, grazing, mineral, salt) What is your total cost for winter feed, grazing, bedding straw, salt & mineral for one bull? | $/hd | |||||
| Bull semen test & vaccinations | $/hd | |||||
| Artificial insemination, if applicable | $/hd | |||||
| BREEDING COSTS | $/hd | |||||
| 6. OTHER COSTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vet & Medicine | $/hd | |||||
| Yardage Yardage per head per day during winter-feeding period. Include fuel, machinery repair, building maintenance, custom work, labour, taxes, depreciation, equipment lease payment, etc. | $/hd/day | |||||
| Interest (%) | ||||||
| Death Loss (%) | ||||||
| OTHER COSTS | $/hd | |||||
RESULTS
| SUBTOTAL HEIFER DEVELOPMENT COSTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opportunity Cost + Feed and Bedding Costs + Grazing + Breeding Costs + Other Costs | $/hd | |||||
| ADJUST FOR CONCEPTION | ||||||
| # of heifers that were not bred | hd | |||||
| Heifer conception rate (%) | ||||||
| Adjust for conception The bred heifers will bear the cost of developing the opens. Subtotal Heifer Dev Costs is divided by conception rate | $/bred heifer | |||||
| Market price of open heifer This will be the expected market price for next fall or whenever you will market the open heifers. Use Canfax's online app for price projection. Check with local market prices and Livestock Price Insurance settlement pricing. | $/lb | |||||
| Estimated Weight of Opens | lbs | |||||
| Adjust for open heifer sales The cost to develop bred heifers will be decreased by the estimated revenues from the sale of the opens. | $/bred heifer CREDIT | |||||
| COST PER BRED HEIFER/BREAK-EVEN PRICE | ||||||
| COST PER BRED HEIFER | BREAK-EVEN PRICE PER HEAD | |||||