Labor inputs per cow would vary based on the amount of harvested feeds fed during the production year. If cattle graze the majority of the year and are fed a limited amount of supplement, labor inputs would be less compared to cows having to be fed harvested feeds for a 90-day period. Our Ag Economics Department develops cow budgets, and labor on a per cow basis ranges from 5.25 to 9 hours annually. The 9 hours per head per year would likely be associated with replacement heifers.
For backgrounding calves for 100 to 180 days, our budgets use 1.0 to 1.5 hour per head.
