Home

Estimated Livestock Returns

The Iowa State University Estimated Livestock Returns serve as a general barometer of profitability and are not intended to represent any one operation, system, or firm. The series assumes a "hand-to-mouth" cash based process of procuring inputs (e.g., feed and feeder animals) as well as selling fed livestock. That is, the calculations purposely assume no risk management, forward pricing, or other strategies in-place. While this approach is used to provide a benchmark over time for profitability trends, it fails to capture notable variability in specific situations and managerial approaches.