Rangeland management decisions require cattle producers to select practices that improve the sustainability of rangelands to maintain cattle production while remaining profitable. The invasion of Eastern red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) across the Great Plains due to fire suppression is limiting grazeable land for cattle. Woody plant encroachment (WPE), combined with drought impacts and high input costs, becomes expensive for cattle producers who are forced to supplement, destock, or both. Patch-burn grazing is a practice based on the understanding of the interaction of fire and grazing (pyric herbivory) that divides a pasture into sections, burning one section rotationally each year. It offers improved rangeland productivity by providing high-quality forages, mitigation for drought impacts, and control of WPE. Despite these benefits, the adoption of patch-burn grazing by cattle producers is limited. Our goal involved increasing awareness of the benefits of patch-burn grazing by estimating the costs and long-term economic benefits and comparing them to those of one of the more traditional approaches of burning an entire pasture every 3 yr. In building an economic analysis, our objectives were to calculate utilization costs and quantify the benefits of high-quality forages and drought impact mitigation. Results indicated that patch-burn grazing will cost approximately $5.94 more per hectare per year than burning the entire pasture every 3 yr. The benefit of cows having continual access to high-quality forages in recently burned areas results in savings of $20 per head per year in winter supplementation costs. Additionally, utilizing patch-burn grazing before a drought, not burning during a drought, and resuming after the drought reduce supplementation and burn costs by 4.5% and increase future value of savings by $100.21 per cow compared with those caused by traditional management practices after 6 yr. An economic analysis of patch-burn grazing provides beneficial economic information to aid cow-calf producers in the decision-making process of rangeland management. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Society for Range Management. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

IntroductionRespiratory disease is a leading cause of death loss among US beef cattle operations and has significant lingering negative impacts on calf health, performance, and financial returns as they move through the supply chain. It can also negatively impact cowherd reproductive performance. Yet, a significant number of beef cattle operations have not adopted respiratory vaccination for calves or the breeding herd.MethodsThis analysis explores the potential reasons why some producers vaccinate their cattle and some do not, including how influential factors regarding vaccination adoption differ between calves and the breeding herd using Probit regression analysis.ResultsRegression results indicate that, for calves, the likelihood of respiratory vaccine adoption is most influenced by herd size and the use of other vaccines. Breeding herd vaccination decisions are more complex, influenced not by herd size but rather by disease knowledge and risk perception, producer education, and cost barriers.DiscussionHerd health management education efforts through veterinarians and extension services can use these results to better target respiratory vaccination information addressing some of these barriers, improving national cattle herd health.

Food labeling is intended to clarify information for consumers, yet sometimes labeling can be misleading. This study examines US consumer choice for labeled and unlabeled products across meat animal species in which differing regulations exist by species regarding hormone use in production and where consumer perception of hormone use by species varies. In the case of hormone use in US meat animal production, pork and poultry products labeled as being produced with no added hormones must also state that federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in production. However, this required information is often obscured on retail labels. Results from expected utility models indicate that after consumers receive information regarding regulations and actual hormone use across species, the difference in utility and in willingness to pay for products labeled "produced with no added hormones" versus unlabeled product is lower for products where hormone use is restricted by federal regulations [EconLit Citations: Q13, D12, Q18].

Abstract Oklahoma State Ag Economics and Animal Science Specialists implement the Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing Survey approximately every 5 yr. Data from the 2017 survey indicated that 82% of producers practiced castration, 87% dewormed, 75% trained calves to feed bunks, 63% weaned calves for a minimum of 45 days, and 49% administered two rounds of respiratory vaccinations (Barnes et al., 2023). Using data from the 2017 survey, the objectives of this study were to evaluate incentives and constraints to producer implementation of calf best management practices and to analyze relationships between individual management practices and marketing calves at weaning ( < 30 d weaned) or following a weaning period (≥ 30 d weaned). Management practices evaluated included castration, deworming, feed bunk training, a minimum 45-d weaning period, and the administration of two rounds of respiratory vaccines. A total of 1,495 surveys were returned. When asked to indicate management incentives (why the practice was implemented), n = 1,375, n = 1,348, n = 1,070, n = 937, and n = 937 responses were recorded regarding castration, deworming, bunk training, 45-d weaning period, and respiratory vaccination, respectively. Survey data indicated 30%, 17%, 18%, 21%, and 21% of respondents felt that buyers paid a premium for the practices of castration, deworming, bunk training, 45-d weaning period, and respiratory vaccination, respectively. Survey responses illustrated that 22% and 19% of producers felt that deworming and bunk training, respectively, improved calf marketability. A total of 12% of respondents indicated that announcing days weaned and vaccination history at the time of sale improved calf value. When asked to indicate constraints to implementing management practices, n = 211, n = 277, n = 258, n = 388, and n = 542 responses were recorded regarding castration, deworming, bunk training, 45-d weaning period, and respiratory vaccination, respectively. According to survey results 15%, 26%, 20%, 17%, and 25% of producers felt that castration, deworming, bunk training, 45-d weaning period, or administering respiratory vaccinations, respectively, provided no benefit to their operations. Data illustrated that 7%, 9%, 10%, 9%, and 9% of respondents were unaware of any added value for the practices of castration, deworming, bunk training, 45-d weaning period, and administering respiratory vaccines. Relationships between the management practices of castration, deworming, and providing respiratory vaccines and the decision to market calves at weaning or post-weaning were evaluated. Data indicated weak significant negative correlation coefficients of -0.25, -0.28, and -0.21 for castration, deworming, and respiratory vaccines, respectively, and marketing at weaning. Conversely, weak significant positive correlations of 0.25, 0.30, and 0.25, respectively, were observed for castration, deworming, and respiratory vaccines with marketing post-weaning. A substantial percentage of producers subscribed to calf best management practices. However, because the observed correlation coefficients were weaker than expected producer education regarding optimal marketing strategies may lead to an improvement in capturing market premiums related to management practices.

The stocker industry plays numerous critical roles in the cattle industry and is the most flexible-yet complicated-segment of the beef supply chain. Stocker producers' calf -purchasing decisions have historically been diverse and difficult to characterize. This study uses data from a unique survey to analyze factors affecting stocker producers' calf -purchasing decisions. Latent class analysis is used to classify stocker producers into subgroups based on cattle -purchasing preferences. Results indicate that stocker producers can be divided into four distinct latent classes according to calf -purchasing preferences.

The Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) is a partnership between the Oklahoma State University Extension Service and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, with the goal of providing and promoting value-added marketing opportunities for beef cattle producers. The Oklahoma Beef Network’s goal is realized through the implementation of the OQBN Vac-45 Program. The OQBN Vac-45 Program is a beef calf preconditioning program, requiring specific vaccination and management practices. Calves that fulfill program requirements receive OQBN Vac-45 Certification and may participate in an “OQBN Sanctioned Sale”. These sales occur as part of regularly scheduled livestock auction sales on specified dates at planned locations. Sale data for all calves sold at OQBN Sanctioned Sales (certified and non-certified calves) were collected each year to capture market premiums attained by OQBN Vac-45 certified calves. The objective of this study was to analyze 11 years of beef calf sale data (2011-2021), collected by extension specialists at 91 individual OQBN Vac-45 sales, which took place at 10 Oklahoma livestock auction locations. An average of 8 sales were conducted each year. A total of 149,525 calves were described using 42 market characteristics for 12 market traits (the number of assigned characteristics depended on the given trait). Market characteristics were analyzed as percentages based on the total number of calves recorded each year. Linear and quadratic regression analysis procedures, with year as the fixed effect were performed using R Statistical Software (v4.1.3; R Core Team 2022). A linear increase in the percentage of red-hided calves sold over time was observed, explained by (R2 = 0.51, P = 0.008). A Kansas State University study by McCabe et al. (2020) regarding breed trends in beef calf lots sold in video auctions from 1995 to 2018, indicated an increase in the number of calves sired by Red Angus bulls (P < 0.0001). An inverse quadratic effect was observed with the percentage of over-conditioned “fleshy” calves decreasing (R2 = 0.89, P < 0.05) and the number of optimally conditioned “average flesh” calves increasing (R2 =0.95. P < 0.05) over time, indicating optimal calf nutritional management. Quadratic regression indicated a decreasing trend (R2 = 0.60, P = 0.01) in the percentage of calves participating in certified preconditioning programs over time, indicating that producers may perceive certified preconditioning programs as an unneeded additional cost. However, from 2011 to 2021 calves enrolled in the OQBN Vac-45 Program received an average premium of $12.55/cwt compared with non-preconditioned calves sold in the same sales. Further data are needed to evaluate the frequency and efficacy of preconditioning practices occurring without participation in certified programs.

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. Methods Data from the Kansas Feedlot Performance and Feed Cost Summary from 1992 through 2017 is used to model feedlot death loss rate as a function of feeder cattle placement weight, days on feed, time, and seasonality in the form of monthly dummy variables. Commonly used tests of structural change, including the CUSUM, CUSUMSQ, and Bai and Perron methods, are implemented to examine the existence and nature of any structural changes in the proposed model. All tests indicate the presence of structural breaks in the model, including both systematic change and abrupt change. Following a synthesis of structural test results, the final model is modified to include a structural shift parameter for the period from December 2000 to September 2010. Results Models indicate that days on feed has a significant positive influence on death loss rate. Trend variables indicate that death loss rates have increased systematically over the period studied. However, the structural shift parameter in the modified model is positive and significant for December 2000 to September 2010, indicating that death loss is higher on average during this period. Variance of death loss percentage is also higher during this period. Parallels between evidence of structural change and possible industry and environmental catalysts are also discussed. Conclusions Statistical evidence does indicate changes in the structure of death loss rates. Ongoing factors such as changes in feeding rations prompted by market forces and feeding technologies may have contributed to systematic change. Other events, such as weather events and beta agonist use could result in abrupt changes. No clear evidence directly connects these factors to death loss rates and disaggregated data would be required to facilitate such a study.

COVID-19 caused meat processing plant shutdowns, increasing public concern regarding the current processing system. We identify numerous issues and limitations to provide the basis for a discussion about the challenges of increasing local and smallscale processing. These include labor, inspection availability, rendering services, capital, waste management/environmental, water, liability and throughput consistency issues. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry received $10 million in grants for the Food Supply Stability Plan for Oklahoma meat processors. This work examines the potential impact of an increased number of local meat processors, and the incentives created by Oklahoma to encourage such actions.

Existing studies on calf management practice adoption tend to treat practices individually and, by implication, ignore the possibility that some practices are more likely than others to be jointly adopted. This study applies market basket analysis to examine bundling of calf management practices based on the likelihood of joint adoption using producer survey data. Results indicate that the base practices of horn management, deworming, and castration are the three most widely adopted practices and are more likely to be jointly adopted in varying combinations with other practices. We discuss implications for extension programming and future studies concerned with understanding practice adoption decisions.

Death loss in feedlot cattle can have significant impacts on feedlot profitability. Not only does death loss result in foregone revenue, but the operation still incurs the costs to date associated with those animals. This study uses pen- level feedlot data from a private feedlot in the Southern Great Plains. Both company- owned and customer retained ownership cattle are included in the data set. A Tobit model is used to analyze pen characteristics’ influence on death loss in feedlot cattle, including cattle characteristics, source characteristics, management characteristics, and treatment incidence. Results imply that several pen characteristics impact death loss and that cattle source, in terms of both cattle source geographic location and market source type, has a significant influence on death loss rate.

U.S. consumers see retail beef products with "no added hormones" (NAH) labels. However, similar labels appear on pork and chicken products, even though hormone use in their production is prohibited. This study assesses consumer perceptions of hormone use in different livestock species. Using choice experiment data, we then examine the impact of these perceptions on preferences for unlabeled meat products and willingness to pay for NAH-labeled meat products. Results suggest that consumer perceptions of hormone use in production are incorrect. Further, perceptions influence consumer preferences and willingness to pay for unlabeled products versus those with NAH labels.

Abstract The impacts of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDv) and persistently infected (PI) are felt across the cattle industry. This project utilized data and parameters from a meta-analysis of reported results along with partial budgeting procedures to determine economic costs and benefits of herd and calf health management. A base herd of 100 head, consisting of 50 breeding females, 43 calves, and 7 replacement heifers and bulls was implemented. Ninety- six percent of cow-calf operations are uninfected from BVDv. Introduction of an enhanced health program as an uninfected herd resulted in a net loss of $7.64 per bred cow in the first year of the program and a net loss of $6.46 in year two. First-year costs were higher due to initial testing, while second-year costs did not include testing under the assumption that carriers were culled. Infected herds incurred net losses of health program implementation of $96.21 per bred cow for the first year but a gain of the program of $27.96 in year two. First-year losses were larger due to increased testing and eradication costs. Gains in the second year stemmed from increased productivity across the herd. Furthermore, gains were discovered beyond cow-calf operations. Evaluation of down-stream demand for calves (i.e., stocker operations) resulted in gains of $4.39 per stocker for a producer that retains ownership of their calves and $48.89 for producers purchasing calves from cow-calf operators (commercial). Commercial stocker operators benefited from fewer health issues without added cow-calf level costs. These results indicate cow-calf producers would carry the burden of the costs of managing, and attempting to eradicate, BVDv/PI across the industry. These results provide industry stakeholder groups and policymakers benchmarks for incentives to induce health programs, targeted largely at the cow-calf level

Objective: This research focuses on the costs associated with adopting a herd health management protocol for eradicating bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDv) from US beef cattle herds. Materials and Methods: Production and market parameters from previous literature, USDA reports, and industry experts were used within a partial budget analysis. Results and Discussion: Potential losses of $54.25/bred cow were found for cow-calf herds that do not have BVDv present (96% of US herds) and a gain of $278.28/bred cow for herds with BVDv present (4% of US herds) when assessed over a 10-yr period, and yearly cash flows were discounted to present dollars. Implications and Applications: The outcomes from this analysis are useful for industry participants and policy makers as baseline incentive levels for cow-calf producers to adopt protocols to eliminate BVDv.

With increased numbers of veterinarians in the market, it is critical to understand how this increased competition affects income potential at multiple levels. This study presents an empirical approach that incorporates local and nonlocalised spatial competition of firms into one model. By analysing the market for veterinarians using a spatial weight matrix approach, we are able to quantify localized and nonlocalised competition which assists in defining relevant market areas for veterinarians. Specifically, increased density within their county and surrounding counties decreases veterinarian income. Thus, the potential market area for veterinarians is larger than the local/county market in which they practice. This is important for veterinarians when choosing a location to practice, as they must consider the competition and demand in local and non-local areas.

Though meat products are considered the primary sources of protein in the U.S., people consume a variety of protein sources including meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and beans. This study expands the typical meat demand study by including alternate protein sources. We implement state-space modelling and Bai-Perron tests to examine structural change in U.S. expenditure patterns on protein sources across pre- and post-recessionary periods. Results are integrated into a Time-Varying Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) including beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy products, dried beans, and an ‘other meat’ composite. Expenditure elasticities generally become relatively more elastic post-recession for protein sources across all income quintiles, with the largest changes in beef and pork. The lowest income group exhibits the least change in own-price and in expenditure elasticities, likely an indication of already limited flexibility.

Though research indicates that many calf management and marketing practices are available to add value for the cow-calf producer, a high percentage of producers are still nonadopters of such practices. Little information identifies nonadopters in the beef cattle industry, limiting efforts to provide educational support. This study uses a binomial logit model and primary survey data to examine the demographic influence on producers’ nonadoption of commonly recommended value-added management and marketing practices specific to feeder calves in the cow-calf segment.

The poster objective is to assess market premium assigned to various levels of reputation and preconditioning by cattle buyers. The market value of seller reputation in cattle markets is discussed anecdotally as an important component of the price paid by the buyer, but has not been observable with standard market data. A positive reputation may be built over time by marketing cattle that perform well for buyers’ needs. That performance is linked to a host of things, including calf management practices and cattle genetics. Likewise, a negative reputation is possible as well. When sellers do not have an established reputation, it is possible that third-party certification of management practices at least partially substitutes for an established reputation regarding market value. This study is currently being conducted during Fall 2015 using an electronic survey administered to cattle buyers at live cattle auctions across Oklahoma to assess the contribution of seller reputation to market price for feeder cattle. The results will benefit cattle producers as the relative value of establishing a reputation or substituting third-party verification for reputation determines the incentives for adopting and/or certifying recommended management and marketing practices.