The Diverse Structure and Organization of U.S. Beef Cow-Calf Farms

Beef cow-calf production in the United States is widespread, occurring in every State. Nearly 765,000 farms, about 35 percent of the 2.2 million farms in the United States, had a beef cow inventory in 2007. Most of these were small, part-time operations. About a third of farms that raise beef animals had a beef cow inventory of less than 10 cows, more than half had fewer than 20 cows, and nearly 80 percent had fewer than 50 cows. In this study, ERS uses data from USDA’s 2008 Agricultural Resource Management Survey for U.S. beef cow-calf operations to examine the structure, costs, and characteristics of beef cow-calf producers. Many small operations are “rural residence farms” that specialize in beef cow-calf production, but their income from off-farm sources exceeds that from the farm. Most beef cow-calf production occurs on large farms, but cow-calf production is not the primary enterprise on many of these farms. Findings suggest that operators of beef cow-calf farms have a diverse set of goals for the cattle enterprise.Beef cow-calf production, farm income, animal traceability, Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), National Animal Identification System (NAIS), Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,

Beef Cow-Calf Producer Participation in the National Animal Identification System

Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics,

Derived Demand for Cattle Feeding Inputs

Derived demand relationships among four weight categories of feeder cattle entering Texas feedlots and feed were examined using a Generalized McFadden dual cost function specified as an error correction model. Relationships among own- and cross-price elasticities provide evidence for at least two cattle feeding enterprises, feeding lightweight feeder cattle (calves) and feeding heavier cattle. These results indicate systematic differences in demand relationships among the different weight classes, providing explanation and insight into mixed results from earlier studies. Seasonality differed across weight categories, providing additional support for multiple cattle feeding enterprises. A third step was added to the Engle-Granger two-step estimation procedure to incorporate information provided in the second step.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Derived Demand for Cattle Feeding Inputs

Derived demand relationships among four weight categories of feeder cattle entering Texas feedlots and their feed consumed are examined using a generalized McFadden dual cost function. Results demonstrate systematic differences in demand relationships among different weight categories. Positive cross-price elasticities among the three heaviest weight categories are consistent with input substitution among weight categories and consistent with objective functions associated with optimal placement weight. Anomalies in the form of negative cross-price elasticities between weight categories provide evidence for an alternative objective function associated with longer term feeding of light-weight feeder cattle. Results also demonstrate seasonality differences across weight categories.cattle feeding, derived demand, elasticity, feeder cattle, generalized McFadden cost function, Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

CONTROLLING WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK DISEASE WITH ENDOGENOUS ON-FARM BIOSECURITY

The spread of infectious disease among and between wild and domesticated animals has become a major problem worldwide. We analyze the socially optimal management of wildlife and livestock, including choices involving environmental habitat variables and on-farm biosecurity controls, when wildlife and livestock can spread an infectious disease to each other. The model is applied to the problem of bovine tuberculosis among Michigan white-tailed deer. The optimum is a cycle in which the disease remains endemic in the wildlife, but in which the cattle herd is depleted when the prevalence rate in deer grows too large.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

1963: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

THE CHRISTIAN AND MORALITY” Being the Abilene Christian College Annual Bible Lectures 1963 Price: $3.95 Published by ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS EXCHANGE ACC Station Abilene, Texa

ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG USE AND VETERINARY COSTS IN U.S. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

Antimicrobial drugs are fed to animals at low levels to treat diseases, to promote growth, and to increase feed efficiency. Incorporating low levels of antimicrobial drugs in livestock feeds has been shown to be a factor stimulating the development of antimicrobial drug resistant bacteria in livestock. Since many of the drugs used to treat livestock are the same as or are related to drugs used in human health care, there is concern that resistant organisms may pass from animals to humans through the handling of animals or food derived from animals. The movement of pathogens from animals to humans, and vice versa, has been documented, but the extent to which it has occurred or could occur is unknown. Although it is estimated that as little as 10 percent of the problems of drug-resistant pathogens in humans originate in livestock health care practices, there is currently considerable debate about the frequency and costs of human disease outbreaks resulting from animals infected with drug-resistant pathogens. Several European countries have banned the growth-promoting use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock production as a precautionary measure to prevent resistant organisms from passing from animals to humans. This report presents preliminary estimates suggesting that discontinuing the use of antimicrobial drugs in hog production would initially decrease feed efficiency, raise feed costs, reduce production, and raise prices to consumers. Longer term effects were not examined