Heifer economics - part 1

摘要

Fall calf prices peaked in 2005, and the current beef-price cycle is expected to trend lower as the cycle plays out. Thus, measuring and controlling heifer-replacement costs over the next 3-4 years is critical. Managing home-raised, replacement-heifernumbers has much more impact on the unit cost of producing a hundredweight of calf (UCOP) than ranchers typically believe. The quickest way to increase UCOP is to hold back added replacement heifers. Conversely, the quickest way to lower UCOP is to reduce the heifer calves held back as replacements.