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Figure 1. Yardage Costs Include Building Maintenance and Depreciation

Do you know your yardage cost?

For a feedlot, the term yardage refers to the daily overhead costs associated with maintaining cattle in the lot (or yard). It includes such costs as building depreciation and repair, labour, taxes and hydro costs. Next to feed costs, yardage is usually the second largest expense when calculating cost of production. The industry average yardage cost is approximately 30¢ per head per day. But this number can vary greatly from one feedlot to the next, especially if you compare an operation which has new facilities with one which has older, fully depreciated buildings.

Take a few minutes and calculate YOUR yardage costs and see how you compare to the industry average.

If you would like to participate in a feedlot yardage survey, please call or email Dennis Martin, Beef Feedlot Specialist, OMAF, Box 159, Clinton, ON N0M 1L0 Phone: (519) 482-5976; Fax: (519) 482-5031. Email: dennis.martin@omaf.gov.on.ca

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