HOW MUCH VALUE IS THERE IN A PRODUCER BRANDED BRED HEIFER PROGRAM?

Agricultural producers are pursuing many methods by which to add value. Typically, some type of change in commodity form is used to add value. However, there exist methods by which added value occurs through intensive management practices, particularly in seedstock production. We investigated the brand premium to a producer-owned quality-based bred heifer program. Results indicated that producers garner in access of a $100/head premium, while potentially reducing future search/advertising costs through building brand loyalty.Livestock Production/Industries,

Estimating the Value Added Product Life Cycle

This research analyzes factors affecting product and profit life-cycles for new value added products. The methodology used shows how sales and profits evolve and how exogenous factors affecting sales and profits. Results indicate that producers can increase the level of sales and profits over time through initial marketing efforts.Marketing,

The Value of Carcass Characteristic EPDs in Bred Heifer Price

This study used hedonic modeling to assess the marginal implicit value of bred heifer characteristics and of carcass characteristic expected progeny differences of bred heifer calves. Using data for 692 pens of Show-Me Replacement Heifers Inc. heifers marketed over the 2001 through 2004 period, we find heavier heifers are priced higher than lighter heifers, artificially inseminated heifer pens were premium priced, Angus animals received a premium, pens that are expected to calve at optimal period of the year and within a 30-day window received premiums, calf performance EPD birth weight was positive, only marbling carcass characteristic EPD was positive and significant, buyers prefer larger lots to smaller lots, buyers pay the highest price for lots sold during the mid-point of the sale, and buyers pay a higher price for a pen bred to the same sire. It may be that certain post-weaning carcass characteristics are not of value to buyers because they either sell at weaning or due to the co-mingling of cattle certain expected production capabilities are of little value.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

DETERMINANTS OF SALE PRICE AND FARM VALUE IN THE MISSOURI SHOW-ME SELECT REPLACEMENT HEIFER PROGRAM

Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,

Natural laminar flow nacelle for transport aircraft

The potential of laminar flow nacelles for reducing installed engine/nacelle drag was studied. The purpose was twofold: to experimentally verify a method for designing laminar flow nacelles and to determine the effect of installation on the extent of laminar flow on the nacelle and on the nacelle pressure distributions. The results of the isolated nacelle tests illustrated that laminar flow could be maintained over the desired length. Installing the nacelles on wing/pylon did not alter the extent of laminar flow occurring on the nacelles. The results illustrated that a significant drag reduction was achieved with this laminar flow design. Further drag reduction could be obtained with proper nacelle location and pylon contouring

Exploring Halo Substructure with Giant Stars: The Dynamics and Metallicity of the Dwarf Spheroidal in Bootes

We report the results of a spectroscopic study of the Bootes (Boo) dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy carried out with the WIYN telescope and the Hydra multifiber spectrograph. Radial velocities have been measured for 58 Boo candidate stars selected to have magnitudes and colors consistent with its red and asymptotic giant branches. Within the 13' half-light radius, seven members of Boo yield a systemic velocity of V_r=95.6+-3.4 km/s and a velocity dispersion of 6.6+-2.3 km/s. This implies a mass on the order of 1 x 10^7 M_sun, similar to the inferred masses of other Galactic dSphs. Adopting a total Boo luminosity of L=1.8 x 10^4 L_sun to 8.6 x 10^4 L_sun implies M/L ~ 610 to 130, making Boo, the most distorted known Milky Way dwarf galaxy, potentially also the darkest. From the spectra of Boo member stars we estimate its metallicity to be [Fe/H] ~ -2.5, which would make it the most metal poor dSph known to date.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR VALUE ADDED BRED HEIFER CHARACTERISTICS

Livestock Production/Industries,

Response of Gestating Beef Cows to Limit-Fed Diets Containing Rolled Barley

In the Northern Great Plains, barley grain may be a more economical source of energy than hay. An experiment was conducted at South Dakota State University Cottonwood Research Station to determine the efficacy of limit-fed, barley-based diets as an alternative to alfalfa hay for beef cows in late gestation. Ninety-six gestating, crossbred cows (age 3 to 11 years; average calving date of May 7) were stratified by age and weight and randomly assigned to one of 12 pens (8 cows/pen). Pens were randomly allotted to one of three winter feeding treatments (4 pens/treatment) from January 15 to April 10, 2003. Treatments were: 1) course-ground alfalfa hay (Hay; fed at approximately 1.6% of BW); 2) dry rolled barley replacing alfalfa hay at 29% of the diet dry matter (Low Barley; fed at approximately 1.4% of BW); and 3) dry rolled barley replacing alfalfa hay at 67% of the diet dry matter (High Barley; fed at approximately 1.2% of BW). All diets were formulated using the 1996 NRC computer model to provide for maintenance of body condition score. A supplement (0.5 lb/d) supplied adequate protein, minerals, vitamins, and 200 mg/hd/d of Rumensin. Rations changed monthly to account for changing cow requirements during late gestation. All diets were consumed within a two-hour period each day. Treatment means were separated using orthogonal contrasts (Hay vs. High and Low Barley; High Barley vs. Low Barley). Cows fed barley gained more weight than cows fed Hay (P \u3c 0.01; weight change of 79, 126, and 132 lb for Hay, Low Barley, and High Barley, respectively). Cows fed barley also gained more body condition than cows fed Hay (P \u3c 0.01; body condition score change of -0.10, 0.24, and 0.38 for Hay, Low Barley, and High Barley, respectively). There were no differences (P \u3e 0.10) in weight or body condition score change between Low and High Barley treatments. There were no differences between treatments in subsequent pregnancy rates (P \u3e 0.50). Rolled barley can be used to replace alfalfa hay in diets for gestating beef cows