Okeechobee's Cattle Industry
More cattle grown in Okeechobee County than anywhere in Florida
Okeechobee County in the heart of Florida’s cattle country
Okeechobee Farms along with the other ranchers here average 140,000
head of beef cattle, not counting their large herds of dairy cattle. There are
40,000 people in Okeechobee County, Florida.
The beef cattle industry in Okeechobee primarily produces feeder calves
which are sold off annually at 6 to 10 months of age at around 500
pounds. Most Cattle Ranchers in Florida sell calves this size each year
and they are called cow/calf operation.
The Okeechobee Livestock Market is the biggest in Florida auction off
over 150,000 animals each year
Statewide-Florida Cattle Ranching: Some of the Numbers
Large ranches over 1,000 head make up around 44 percent of Florida’s
beef cattle total. These large cattle ranches make up only 20% of the
actual Floridians raising cattle. 80% of Florida cattle producers are small
family operations.
These small ranchers like the Okeechobee Farms Group often hold jobs
off the farm as well as manage their private cattle ranches. It is this
personal integrity which we hold dear and cultivate long term with our
Grass Farmers as we like to call them!
Four out of the ten largest US ranches are located here in Florida.
The Church of the Latter Day Saints owns The Deseret Ranch, the largest
brood cow ranch in Florida and the nation. Over 1.1 million beef cattle
grow there. Right now, Florida is the third largest beef-producing state
east of the Mississippi River, and currently ranked 10th in the nation.
These rankings change over time and Florida has been the #1 beef
producing state usually flipping back forth with the great state of Texas as
the main contender.
Florida’s breeding herd is worth nearly $900 Million, and our calves
around $350 Million at any given time on average.
Florida’s feeder calves are then shipped to stocking, conditioning and
finishing operations in Texas and the Midwest, and then on to feedlots
(CAFOs)in other states to be processed into commercial beef.
Cow/calf operations in Florida have benefited from university of Florida’s
research work which has, over the years, improved local breeder stock,
helped develop superior grasses for use in hot and wet Florida. See a list
of 14 Florida Grasses, Legumes and Clovers in the Articles section of the
website- www.OFarmsCSA.com.
Much of Real and Natural, undeveloped Florida is part of the actual cattle
industry although it looks like pristine grassland when you drive by at 75
MPH. To us and our group of Grass Farmers and Cattle ranches, a
healthy ranch has lots of green grass, clean natural resources and plenty
of Florida’s wildlife.
Almost 50% of all Florida ag land grows cattle, beef or dairy. There are 4
million acres of pastureland and 1 million acres of grazed woodland in use
in Florida today. And the Yankees think we have no grass here…..