Ag Alternatives - Beef Cow-Calf Production
Joan Sinclair Petzen, Farm Business Management
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
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.
From Penn State Extension's Ag Alternatives Fact Sheets: Beef Cow - Calf Production
Dairy
Livestock
Grazing
Forages
Grains
Upcoming Events
2026 Corn Silage Dry Down Day- Yates County
September 14, 2026
Himrod, NY
Bring a sample of corn stalks from each field you anticipate harvesting for corn silage to receive whole plant dry matter value, estimated harvest date range, and information on best management practices for the 2026 corn silage harvest.
2026 Corn Silage Dry Down Day- Seneca County
September 15, 2026
Romulus, NY
Bring a sample of corn stalks from each field you anticipate harvesting for corn silage to receive whole plant dry matter value, estimated harvest date range, and information on best management practices for the 2026 corn silage harvest.
2026 Dairy Feeder School- Wyoming County
November 11, 2026
Perry, NY
Registration will open by the end of September.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Join the Regional Dairy Specialists for a one day on-farm training for dairy farm feeders. The training will be offered in English and Spanish and will feature stations with hands-on activities and demonstrations.