The first summarizes the costs and returns of a cow-calf enterprise using a feeding program of hay and pasture, and the second summarizes the costs and returns of a cow-calf enterprise using a feeding program of silage and pasture. There are several different ways of starting a commercial beef cow-calf herd:

• buying heifers of either weaning or breeding age
• purchasing an entire cow herd
• purchasing individual cows from established herds.

When deciding on the source of cows or heifers, the genetic potential and health program of the herd should be considered.

From Penn State Extension's Ag Alternatives Fact Sheets: Beef Cow - Calf Production