With: Shannon Sand, Extension Agricultural Economist, UNL; Matt Stockton, Professor of Agricultural Economics, UNL; and Randy Saner, Livestock Systems Extension Educator, UNL.

For the last several years, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Extension Beef Economics team has created a short document that forecasts the expected value of replacement heifers for Nebraska producers. These forecasts are intended to be used as a guide in what cow replacement costs might be, given market volatility, futures expectations, costs, etc. and reflect what might happen over the life of purchased animals.

Forecasts such as this one are intended to help individuals create a reference point for their operation and expectations of potential future events and to arrive at what a reasonable value might be for a heifer/cow purchased or retained for replacement given their situation.