Net Returns from Feeding Cull Beef Cows: The Influence of Initial Body Condition Score

The impact of initial body condition scores on net returns from retaining beef cull cows for delayed marketing was investigated in a three-year experiment. Cows were retained either on native grass pasture or in a low-input dry lot setting. Net returns are examined across five alternative marketing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Agricultural and Applied Economics Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 139 - 155
Main Authors Amadou, Zakou, Raper, Kellie Curry, Biermacher, Jon T, Cook, Billy, Ward, Clement E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.02.2014
Edition1379
Subjects
Agribusiness
Agricultural and Food Policy
body condition score
cow-calf management
cull cows
net returns
retention system
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Summary:The impact of initial body condition scores on net returns from retaining beef cull cows for delayed marketing was investigated in a three-year experiment. Cows were retained either on native grass pasture or in a low-input dry lot setting. Net returns are examined across five alternative marketing periods, including culling. Sensitivity of net returns to changes in retention cost is also examined. Although a native grass pasture system was generally more profitable than a low-input dry lot system, thin and medium cows were typically more profitable than cows with higher initial body condition score regardless of the feeding system.
DOI:10.22004/ag.econ.169046