How Much Does a Black Angus Cow Cost?
The black angus cow is a breed of cattle used in beef production. Most cattle will be black; however, a red color has emerged as of late. In the United States, however, the Black Angus and Red Angus are both considered separate breeds, while the United Kingdom views both of these colors as the same. Being the most common breed of beef cattle, there were more than 324,000 registered in 2005.
How much does a black angus cow cost?
The cost will depend on the age, gender, the size, where it’s being purchased from and geographical location. On average, plan on spending anywhere from $800 to as much as $3,000+ per, with bulls being 50 to 70 percent more than a cow. An open Angus heifer calf, for example, can cost anywhere from $1,400 to as much as $1,800, while a full grown Hereford bull can cost upwards of $3,400.
CattleRange.com, at the time of this writing, has hundreds of listings from farms located primarily in Texas and the surrounding regions. Glancing at a few of these ads, most farmers were selling their black angus cows for about $800 to $1,800. Some farmers would sell the cows individually, but some required a minimum order.
Another classified website, Ranch World Ads, had about 30 to 40 listings, with prices ranging from $1,100 to $2,100.
| Type | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Angus Bred Heifers | $1,400 to $1,800 |
| Bulls | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Cows | $1,200 to $1,500 |
| Cows w/calves | $1,300 to $3,000 |
| Show-quality Bull | $3,500 to $5,500 |
What is going to be included in the fee?
Reputable sellers should include any related paperwork, up-to-date vaccinations, a vet health checkup and a health guarantee in some circumstances.
With show-quality cattle, the seller may include a fertility test.
What are the extra costs?
A 1,400-pound cow, on average, will eat about 40 pounds of feed daily. Farmandranchguide.com says if the hay was priced at $65 per ton, this would translate to about $1.40 per day.
Aside from the feed, you also need to factor in water, pen cleaning costs and any overhead if you were to have more than 20 cows on your property. Vet visits, as with any animals, will need to be factored in. Insurance and breeding expenses, if need be, will also need to be considered. When all expenses are factored in, such as the pasture, feed, yardage, overhead and vet visits, the total costs could be close to $700+ per year.
Some farmers will deliver their cows within a certain distance for a fee. This fee will depend on the distance being traveled and how many cows that need to be transported. However, if you were to purchase all of their cows at the time of the listing, some may deliver for free.
Tips to know
Most of the listings you will see will often be put up by local farmers, with quantities ranging from 20 to as much as 125. Some sellers will require you to purchase the whole group, whereas others may allow you to hand-pick a few out of the group. Generally, the more you purchase, the more incentives you may receive such as free shipping.
Angus cows, when found on the market, will be about two to eight years old, with the fair majority weighing anywhere from 1,100 to 1,300 pounds. Sellers will almost always list this information inside their classified ad.
How can I save money?
Almost all listings will be negotiable and won’t be considered the final price. Don’t be afraid to haggle to knock at least 10 to 20 percent off the final bill.
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Average Reported Cost: $425
How much did you spend?
- Ricky Deese (Colquitt , Georgia) paid $ and said:
I have not bought yet looking for a good bred to raise for a hobby and maybe for meat sometime. Can someone help me with this
Was it worth it? Yes
- JR (zanesville, Ohio) paid $850 and said:
B. Angus steers for meat, 850.00 each Not likely that you will break even but, you will have the satisfaction that you raised your own beef. Not that meat processors would be tempted to indulge but, even honest mistakes? Pay attention to what is returned to you.
Was it worth it? Yes
