KEY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO COW/CALF COSTS, PROFITS AND PRODUCTION

In this study, cow/calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) data for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico are used to analyze how total cost, production, and profitability are affected by management choices. Total cost is the financial cost associated with raising a calf through the weaning stage; profits are measured using the rate of return on assets; production is determined by pounds weaned per exposed female. Variables such as herd size, pounds of feed fed, calving percentage, death loss, length of breeding season and investment in asset groups are used in regressions. Key factors contributing to a cow/calf operation's costs, production, and profitability are identified.Livestock Production/Industries,

The genome of the emerging barley pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni

Background Ramularia collo-cygni is a newly important, foliar fungal pathogen of barley that causes the disease Ramularia leaf spot. The fungus exhibits a prolonged endophytic growth stage before switching life habit to become an aggressive, necrotrophic pathogen that causes significant losses to green leaf area and hence grain yield and quality. Results The R. collo-cygni genome was sequenced using a combination of Illumina and Roche 454 technologies. The draft assembly of 30.3 Mb contained 11,617 predicted gene models. Our phylogenomic analysis confirmed the classification of this ascomycete fungus within the family Mycosphaerellaceae, order Capnodiales of the class Dothideomycetes. A predicted secretome comprising 1053 proteins included redox-related enzymes and carbohydrate-modifying enzymes and proteases. The relative paucity of plant cell wall degrading enzyme genes may be associated with the stealth pathogenesis characteristic of plant pathogens from the Mycosphaerellaceae. A large number of genes associated with secondary metabolite production, including homologs of toxin biosynthesis genes found in other Dothideomycete plant pathogens, were identified. Conclusions The genome sequence of R. collo-cygni provides a framework for understanding the genetic basis of pathogenesis in this important emerging pathogen. The reduced complement of carbohydrate-degrading enzyme genes is likely to reflect a strategy to avoid detection by host defences during its prolonged asymptomatic growth. Of particular interest will be the analysis of R. collo-cygni gene expression during interactions with the host barley, to understand what triggers this fungus to switch from being a benign endophyte to an aggressive necrotroph

Investigating resistance to Barley mild mosaic virus

There are claims that at least 11 genes confer resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgaris) to one or more components of the soilborne barley mosaic virus complex but, apart from the immunity conferred by the widely used gene rym4, little is known about their mode of action. This study used mechanical (sap) and plasmodiophorid vector-inoculation techniques combined with ELISA, RT-PCR, symptom development and virus transmission to investigate the response of different genotypes to Barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV). Barley genotypes were grown at 20 and 12degreesC to test for temperature sensitivity. Plants with the genes rym3 or rym6 were fully susceptible to the virus, whereas those with genes rym1, Rym2, rym5 or rym11 appeared to be immune, as BaMMV was never detected in any tissue type nor was the virus transmitted from them to susceptible genotypes. The remaining genotypes could all be infected to some extent by BaMMV using one or both inoculation methods, and virus could be transmitted from their roots by the plasmodiophorid vector Polymyxa graminis. Plants with the rym7 gene had delayed symptoms compared to susceptible controls at 12degreesC. Plants with the rym8 gene could be infected by both inoculation methods, but there was no virus in the leaves at 12degreesC. Plants with the rym9 gene could be infected only by vector inoculation, and virus remained localized in the roots. Plants with the rym10 gene appeared susceptible by mechanical inoculation at both temperatures, but after vector inoculation virus moved to leaves only at 20degreesC. This suggests the operation of translocation resistance in plants with the rym8, rym9 or rym10 genes, which is temperature-sensitive in rym8 and rym10 and perhaps tissue-specific in rym9. No resistance to P. graminis was observed in any of the genotypes

A FARM LEVEL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE SOIL LOSS CONTROL POLICIES

A farm firm level model is used to analyze the impacts of alternative soil loss control policies. Adjustments in farm management practices required by the alternative control policies are discussed. In addition, the analysis investigates the impacts of soil loss controls on farm financial characteristics including income generation, cash flows, asset values, and debt servicing capacity

Factors Affecting Beef Cow-Herd Costs, Production, and Profits

Cow-herd standardized performance analysis (SPA) data for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico were used to determine economic factors affecting cow-herd costs, production, and profitability. Total cost was defined as the financial cost associated with raising a calf through the weaning stage; production, as pounds weaned per exposed female; and profits, as a rate of return on assets. Variable affecting one of more performance measures included herd size; pounds of feed fed; real estate, machinery, and breeding-stock investments; calving percentage; death loss; and breeding-season length. Management variables were especially important for financial costs and profitability of the cow-herd operation

KEY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO COW/CALF COSTS, PROFITS AND PRODUCTION

In this study, cow/calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) data for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico are used to analyze how total cost, production, and profitability are affected by management choices. Total cost is the financial cost associated with raising a calf through the weaning stage; profits are measured using the rate of return on assets; production is determined by pounds weaned per exposed female. Variables such as herd size, pounds of feed fed, calving percentage, death loss, length of breeding season and investment in asset groups are used in regressions. Key factors contributing to a cow/calf operation's costs, production, and profitability are identified