Assuming you are wanting a domestically raised cow in the United States the average cost of feed per year is about $600. This is based on 500 pounds of feed being consumed per month. The cost of feed will depend on the type of feed and the location that it is purchased. The average cost of a 50-pound bag of feed is $15.
Cows are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of grass. For grass to be digestible cows must chew it thoroughly which they do by transferring it to the back of their mouth and grinding it with their molar teeth. The saliva in their mouth contains enzymes that break down cellulose so that cows can extract a high proportion of nutrients from plants they eat.
Cattle are ruminants meaning that they have a four-chamber stomach. The first chamber the rumen is large and acts as a fermenter or a holding tank. The cow regurgitates its food called cud and chews it again. This time however the cud is easier to digest because of the bacteria in the rumen that help break down the cellulose.
The second chamber the reticulum is where the cows store their cud until they are ready to regurgitate and chew it again. The third chamber the omasum is where water and minerals are absorbed. The fourth chamber the abomasum is similar to the human stomach in that it is where digestion of proteins and other nutrients actually occurs.
Cows eat about 40 pounds of food per day and spend about 8 hours per day eating. When they are not eating they are ruminating or regurgitating and chewing their cud.
How much does it cost to feed a cow per year?
Answer: It costs approximately $300 to $400 to feed a cow per year.
How much hay does a cow eat in a day?
Answer: A cow can eat anywhere between 30 and 40 pounds of hay per day.
How much does a bale of hay cost?
Answer: A bale of hay can cost anywhere from $5 to $20 depending on the quality of the hay and where it is purchased.
What do cows eat besides hay?
Answer: Cows also eat corn oats and other grains.
How much does a cow weigh?
Answer: A cow typically weighs between 1000 and 1200 pounds.
How much milk does a cow produce in a day?
Answer: A cow can produce up to 8 gallons of milk per day.
What do farmers do with a cow’s milk?
Answer: Farmers can either sell the milk to a dairy or use it to make other dairy products such as cheese or butter.
How long do cows live?
Answer: Cows typically live between 15 and 20 years.
How much do calves weigh when they are born?
Answer: Calves typically weigh between 60 and 80 pounds when they are born.
How often do cows need to be milked?
Answer: Cows typically need to be milked two or three times per day.
How much does a gallon of milk cost?
Answer: A gallon of milk typically costs between $3 and $5.
What do farmers do with male calves?
Answer: Male calves are typically sold to veal operators or other farmers.
What is beef?
Answer: Beef is the meat that comes from cows.
How much does a pound of beef cost?
Answer: A pound of beef typically costs between $4 and $8.
What do farmers do with female calves?
Answer: Female calves are typically raised to be Dairy cows.
