In past cattle cycles, I felt it took average profits of over $200/cow to stimulate a full-blown beef herd expansion. So, what was the profit level of a typical 2011 beef cowherd? Let's look at the 2011 average for 42 beef cowherds representing the western region of North Dakota. These 2011 herds (Figure 1) averaged 165 cows and weaned an 87% calf crop based on females exposed, with a 528-lb. average weaning weight. These herds produced 457 lbs. of calf weaned per female exposed.
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