Raising Cattle In Montana (Lewistown, Wolf Point: mortgage, living, prices)

[Alan Rowe PI]

We plan moving to Montana in about 6-7 years. What is the best part of MT to raise cattle in?

[altaina]

Eastern part of the state. It's rolling hills & grassland.

[cluckk]

Eastern is the place to raise beef. The only problem can be prices. The cost of land has gone up because of hobby ranchers paying too much. They don't make their living off the beef, just do it for fun and recreation, so don't have to live off beef prices. This can make it hard to pay a mortgage on the land from the profits on the beef.

One thing to keep in mind while looking is that in Eastern Montana the carrying capacity of the land is lower than much of the country (fewer cow/calf pairs are possible per acre). The land is dryer and more bare. This also brings us to the fact that water can be hard to find in certain areas. Make sure and check all these things out before you buy.

[torridawn]

I am moving back to Montana Aug 2007 after being in NY for 19 years. (Spent a stint in California so I've been away from "home" for about 25 years.) My dad raised black Angus cattle for beef south of Wolf Point. I am toying with the idea of raising a few beef-alo and maybe even ostrich. Both are good, specialty meats.

I will be moving to Lewistown...smack dab in the middle of the state. I have family still in Wolf Point, Malta, Seeley Lake and Washington State.

Torri