Retained Ownership Decision Tool  
Southwest Stocker/Background Program  
by Dillon Feuz  
 
Southwest Market Information  
Month you plan to place the cattle in the stocker/background program?
 
 
Anticipated weight of the feeder cattle entering the program  lbs.  
    Click Link below for Futures Prices  
Enter the "Last" price for  CME Feeder Cattle in $/cwt. CME Feeder Cattle      
The estimated feeder steer price is per cwt. or per head  
Enter the estimated price or a different expected feeder price per cwt.  
 
Enter your estimated transportation cost to the stocker/background destination  
  Trucking Freight   /head  
  Other Transportation   /head  
 
Stocker/Background program  
Enter the number of days cattle are expected to be in this program days  
Enter the expected average daily gain of this program lbs.  
 
Assuming a 1.5% transportation shrink, estimated ending weight is lbs.  
    Click Link below for Futures Prices  
Enter the "Last" price for  CME Feeder Cattle in $/cwt. CME Feeder Cattle  
Your Southwest price is estimated to be per cwt. or per head  
     
 
Estimated feed/pasture costs per head /head  
Estimated vet/med and other supplies per head /head  
Estimated death loss percent (including death loss for transportation)  
Interest rate you pay on cattle and feed expenses  
Any additional costs per head /head  
  Total feeding period costs /head  
     
Projected Returns per Head  
Estimated gross return for feeding period ending in /head  
Less initial calf cost /head      
Less transportation costs /head      
Less feeding period costs /head  
 
Estimated net return per head for the stocker/background program /head  
     
 
Cattle prices change over time due to changing market conditions.  The graph below is a simulation of your expected Net Return per Head based on historical price volatility in the feeder cattle market for the time frame of the designated feeding period.