Evaluating feeding programs 'step one' for cow/calf profitability

摘要

Cost factors affect returns to cow/calf producers more than production, reproduction or selling strategies, and of these cost factors, feed expenses have the greatest impact, according to an analysis of the financial records of Illinois and Iowa cow/calf producers at the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University. Eight cost factors accounted for 82 percent of the variation in farm-to-farm returns to labor and management, noted Alan Miller, co-ordinator of integrated resource management at the University of Illinois. Feed costs were the most significant, covering 50 percent of the variation in herd-to-herd profits, he said. The analysis was run using producers' integrated resource management and Standardised Production Analysis (SPA) records from 1996 to 1999, Miller said. SPA involves analysis of beef cattle enterprise financial and production performance and was nationally standardised by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Extension Service. The analysis is performed annually forproducers.