J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1982. 55:489-497.
© 1982 American Society of Animal Science
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Systems Analysis of Beef Production — Effects of Culling Criteria on Net Income1

Stephen E. Clarke2, Charles T. Gaskins3 and Joe K. Hillers3

Washington State University, Pullman 99164

Abstract

A typical western rangeland cow-calf operation was simulated using a deterministic mathematical model written in FORTRAN. The cow herd, including heifers, was held at 200 head during the breeding season. A stable age distribution for the cow herd was determined based on production characteristics and optional culling criteria related to reproductive efficiency. The effects of different culling criteria were investigated for several mating plans. Net income increased if nonpregnant cows were culled in the fall or if cows were culled for not having a live calf at side at the end of the calving season. Net income decreased when cows were culled for failure to wean a calf. These culling criteria affected net income directly through changes in revenues and expenses and indirectly through changes in the age distribution of the herd. When two or more of the culling criteria were combined, their effects were in the same direction as when examined singly, but the effects were not additive. Rotational crossbreeding was more efficient than terminal crossbreeding because of the detrimental effect of increases in annual replacement rate on the utilization of heterosis in terminal crossbreeding and because complementarity was ignored.

Footnotes

1 Scientific Paper No. 5790. College of Agriculture Research Center, Washington State Univ., Pullman. Project 0389.

2 Dept. of Anim. Sci., Oregon State Univ., Corvallis 97331.

3 Dept. of Anim. Sci.






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Copyright © 1982 by the American Society of Animal Science.