ANALYSIS OF THE PETAN RANCH
Abstract/Summary
The purpose of this study was to determine the best time to sell calves on the Petan Ranch in Tuscarora, Nevada. The Petan Ranch has two options of when to sell their steer calves: shortly after weaning in November weighing 500 pounds and run more cows, or keep 70% of the steer calves and sell them as 875 pound yearlings in August and run fewer cows.
Prices and expenses for raising steer calves and stocker steers were collected from the Petan Ranch from the last ten years. Enterprise budgets for a cow-calf enterprise and a cow-calf-yearling enterprise were used. Based on the enterprise budgets, a partial budget was performed to determine which option is most likely to be profitable.
Using the partial budget, it was determined that selling all the steer calves shortly after weaning and running more cows is the most profitable option for the Petan Ranch.