11 a.m. Update: Driving along Texas roadways you often see big trucks. It's a Lone Star staple. Dr. Jason Banta, Texas AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, gave tips on reducing input costs and one of those was the type of pickup you drive as part of a cattle operation.
The price of fuel this year has been out of sight and beef producers who hook up to a Gooseneck cattle trailer less than two times a year and drive a 3/4-ton pickup may not be doing it cost effectively. Banta said it might make more economic sense to purchase a bumper-pull trailer for an operation and drive a 1/2-ton truck. He suggested contracting out someone to haul full loads of cattle, reducing capital outlay for an expensive 3/4-ton pickup and Gooseneck trailer.
"Everybody is going to want a Gooseneck, but a bumper pull might make more sense to move a bull or transport just a few calves. It makes more sense to hire somebody for full loads," Banta said. "You can eliminate that high-dollar 3/4 ton pickup. If you're only using that Gooseneck only once or twice a year, does it make sense to run that 3/4 ton pickup up and down the road versus the half-ton and get better mileage?"
-BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
Dr. Jason Banta, Texas AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, provides tips on dealing with high input costs at the 2008 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. (Photo by Blair Fannin, AgriLife Communications)
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