Simulating Beef Cattle Herd Productivity with Varying Cow Liveweight and Fixed Feed Supply

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dc.citation.issue1
dc.citation.volume11
dc.contributor.authorFarrell LJ
dc.contributor.authorMorris ST
dc.contributor.authorKenyon PR
dc.contributor.authorTozer PR
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-16T20:32:43Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-25T06:52:38Z
dc.date.available2024-01-16T20:32:43Z
dc.date.available2024-07-25T06:52:38Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-06
dc.description.abstractThe liveweight of New Zealand beef cows has increased in recent decades due to selection for higher growth rates. Published data suggest that the efficiency of beef cow production decreases with increasing cow liveweight. Changes in beef herd size, feed demand, production, and cash operating surplus (COS) were simulated with average mature cow liveweight varied to 450, 500, 550, and 600 kg. With total annual beef feed demand fixed at the same level, in all scenarios cow numbers and numbers of weaned calves decreased with increasing cow liveweight. When the model was run with consistent efficiency of calf production across the mature cow liveweights (scenario A), heavier cows were more profitable. However, using published efficiency data (scenarios B and C), herds of heavier cows were less profitable. The likely most realistic scenario for New Zealand hill country farms (scenario B) had COS decrease from New Zealand Dollars (NZD) 456/ha with a herd of 450 kg cows to NZD 424/ ha with 600 kg cows. Reductions in COS were relatively small, which may not deter farmers from breeding heavier cows for higher calf growth rates. However, the results of this analysis combined with indirect potential economic impacts suggest that the heaviest cows may not be optimal for New Zealand hill country conditions.
dc.format.pagination1-16
dc.identifier.author-urlhttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000609684900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=c5bb3b2499afac691c2e3c1a83ef6fef
dc.identifier.citationFarrell LJ, Morris ST, Kenyon PR, Tozer PR. (2021). Simulating beef cattle herd productivity with varying cow liveweight and fixed feed supply. Agriculture (Switzerland). 11. 1. (pp. 1-16).
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/agriculture11010035
dc.identifier.eissn2077-0472
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.numberARTN 35
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71093
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.relation.isPartOfAgriculture (Switzerland)
dc.rights(c) 2021 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectherd dynamics
dc.subjectherd size
dc.subjectprofit
dc.subjectbio-economic
dc.subjectsystem dynamics
dc.subjectNew Zealand
dc.subjectfeed demand
dc.subjectefficiency
dc.subjectweaning weight ratio
dc.subjectWWR
dc.titleSimulating Beef Cattle Herd Productivity with Varying Cow Liveweight and Fixed Feed Supply
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id438335
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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