Structural change in feedlot cattle death loss rates.

Introduction: Industry reports and anecdotal evidence indicate that the death loss rate in cattle feedlots has increased over time. Such increases in death loss rates impact feedlot cost and thus profitability.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to examine whether feedlot death loss rates in cattle have changed over time, to analyze the nature of any identified structural change, and to identify possible catalysts for that change.

Observational study of the effect of metaphylaxis treatment on feedlot cattle productivity and health.

There is public pressure to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock production. Metaphylaxis usage raises special concern as it is given to a whole group of animals. The objective of this research was to determine the difference in cattle productivity and health (average daily gain, death loss, etc.

Economic Feasibility of Mixed-Species Grazing to Improve Rangeland Productivity.

Pasture and grazing land in the southern and central Great Plains is being invaded by woody species, especially eastern redcedar. As a result of woody plant encroachment, cattle production on native rangeland is becoming less profitable because stocking rates must be decreased. Eastern redcedar encroachment can be controlled by grazing management, herbicide use, prescribed fire, mechanical control and mixed species grazing.

Economic considerations of enhanced BRD control.

Cattle producers and animal health professionals are increasingly frustrated by the inability to reduce the impacts of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Improved BRD control is difficult due to the complex nature of the disease; the complexity of cattle industry structure and function; and the imbalance of economic incentives for enhanced BRD control. Success in improving BRD control will depend on an industry-wide comprehensive effort to address lifetime animal health issues as well as correcting or offsetting imbalances in economic benefits and costs for enhanced animal health management across cattle production sectors.

The Effect of Market Forces on Bovine Respiratory Disease.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a persistent negative economic impact on beef and dairy industries and the inability to show any progress in controlling BRD is a source of increasing frustration among animal health professionals and the industry. The complex economic structure of the cattle industry leads to market failures in which cow-calf producers do not have sufficient economic incentive to invest in improved BRD control. This leads to higher costs for stocker and feedlot sectors.

Economics of stocker production.

The beef cattle industry, like any industry, is subject to economic signals to increase or decrease production according to short-run and long-run market conditions. Profitable stocker production is the result of careful matching of economic conditions to alternative animal production systems combined with sound animal and business management. The economics of stocker production are driven by the feeder cattle price-weight relation that combines broad market signals about how much production is needed with complex and subtle signals about how that production should be accomplished.

Beef cattle growing and backgrounding programs.

The stocker industry is one of many diverse production and marketing activities that make up the United States beef industry. The stocker industry is probably the least understood industry sector and yet it plays a vital role in helping the industry exploit its competitive advantage of using forage resources and providing an economical means of adjusting the timing and volume of cattle and meat in a complex market environment.