Evaluation of alternative market organizations in a simulated livestock-meat economy

The economic effects of alternative forms of market organization can be studied by direct observation or by experimenting with a simulated economy. The experimental approach in the study of market behavior is a relatively new but important technique for the analysis of many policy issues in American agriculture. Experimenting on a simulated system is not an analytical approach confined to academic issues; it has its counterpart, for example, in the engineering fields. Major engineering installations often are based on studies involving the use of models in simulated situations; the experimental results provide a basis for more accurately anticipating the actual performance of a dam, a bridge or a vehicle under different conditions. Similarly, simulation in economic research involves model building and manipulation that makes possible. the telescoping of years of actual experience into a matter of minutes and a few dollars worth of computer time

IMPACT OF MEAT IMPORTS ON LEAST-COST UNITED STATES BEEF PRODUCTION

International Relations/Trade,

Correlation of gene expression and protein production rate - a system wide study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Growth rate is a major determinant of intracellular function. However its effects can only be properly dissected with technically demanding chemostat cultivations in which it can be controlled. Recent work on <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae </it>chemostat cultivations provided the first analysis on genome wide effects of growth rate. In this work we study the filamentous fungus <it>Trichoderma reesei </it>(<it>Hypocrea jecorina</it>) that is an industrial protein production host known for its exceptional protein secretion capability. Interestingly, it exhibits a low growth rate protein production phenotype.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have used transcriptomics and proteomics to study the effect of growth rate and cell density on protein production in chemostat cultivations of <it>T. reesei</it>. Use of chemostat allowed control of growth rate and exact estimation of the extracellular specific protein production rate (SPPR). We find that major biosynthetic activities are all negatively correlated with SPPR. We also find that expression of many genes of secreted proteins and secondary metabolism, as well as various lineage specific, mostly unknown genes are positively correlated with SPPR. Finally, we enumerate possible regulators and regulatory mechanisms, arising from the data, for this response.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on these results it appears that in low growth rate protein production energy is very efficiently used primarly for protein production. Also, we propose that flux through early glycolysis or the TCA cycle is a more fundamental determining factor than growth rate for low growth rate protein production and we propose a novel eukaryotic response to this i.e. the lineage specific response (LSR).</p

Simulated Interregional Models of the Livestock-Meat Economy

Excerpt from the report Summary: Optimal interregional trade patterns for slaughter cattle and hogs, and beef and pork are determined under several alternative market conditions that might occur in the midseventies. Projections of cattle and hog production for slaughter, beef and pork consumption, slaughter capacity, transportation costs, and labor costs for slaughter in 26 regions of the continental United States provide the basic data for the model used. The spatial model developed and used by Judge, Havlicek, and Rizek in Research Bulletin 163 was used to determine the optimal flows of both livestock and meat. In this model, both livestock and meat transportation costs and slaughter labor costs are minimized, subject to the maximum slaughter capacity available in each region

A Description and Analysis of Some Phases of the Marketing of Certified and Common Grass Seed

This thesis attempts to describe and analyze some of the phases of marketing the certified and common (uncertified) seeds of bromegrass and sudangrass and a few of the marketing situations common to all grass seeds. Advisor:C. J. Mille

A Description and Analysis of Some Phases of the Marketing of Certified and Common Grass Seed

This thesis attempts to describe and analyze some of the phases of marketing the certified and common (uncertified) seeds of bromegrass and sudangrass and a few of the marketing situations common to all grass seeds. Advisor:C. J. Mille

Economic Projections Using a Behavioral Model

A recently published model of the livestock-meat economy is used to illustrate modifications that permit us to obtain a reasonable and consistent set of projected values to 1980. Ecollomic theory and an understanding of the industry were used to introduce a set of assumptions about institutional change and human behavior. The projected values serve as a basis for comparison with alternative projections resulting from changes made in the model to represent different policies or management decisions

Economics of the U.S. Meat Industry

Total U.S. meat consumption will probably grow slowly between 1987 and 2000, in line with the expected 12- to 15-percent population expansion. This slow growth, plus the increased availability of crop-based foods, challenges producers to develop meat products that appeal to the consumer and can be produced to sell at competitive prices. The 1984 real (inflation-adjusted) retail prices for beef and pork dropped almost 20 percent from 1960 levels, and real prices for broiler meat dropped 50 percent. These decreases resulted from the meat industry's move to fewer but larger, more efficient firms. These firms slaughtered and produced more than 60 percent of U.S. livestock and poultry at lower unit cost than smaller, similar firms