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The aim of the study was to integrate economics, forage agronomy and livestock production data to determine the economic costs and benefits of management techniques that can extend the grazing season for beef production in Atlantic Canada. The results of the study show that extending the grazing season is financially and economically beneficial for both an Atlantic beef farmer and the whole Atlantic community. Extending the grazing season could be thus an alternative solution to enhance beef farm viability in Atlantic Canada. It can also contribute to the sustainable development of beef cattle production through its benefits for environmental protection. The results of this study reflect the necessity of supporting and promoting the adoption of extended grazing season practices in Atlantic beef production. This support and this promotion could involve increasing awareness, training on grazing management skills, diffusion at workshops and participatory research.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Glynn Tonsor / Accessing new management information is crucial for the effective management of an operation in any industry. Beef producers are no exception to this as producers are exposed to numerous risks. The use and implementation of new management information by producers can assist in managing the operation to limit a producer’s risk exposure. The beef industry in the United States today is comprised of a large number of small producers, and operations can be categorized into three segments - cow-calf, stocker/backgrounder and feedlot. Identifying and understanding the characteristics of beef producers assists in the effective design, development, and delivery of educational materials and new information. In 2008, a National Stocker Survey was conducted to collect data from producers nationwide on operation characteristics and production practices as they related to the stocking and backgrounding of calves. The survey was comprised of 10 areas which focused on all aspects of production during the stocker phase. Included in the survey was a section on communication and education, where producers were asked to indicate their level of trust for the 14 sources and 11 methods where by management information might be accessed. The primary objective of this thesis is to identify specific producer and operation characteristics that are key drivers of producer trust for a number of sources and methods where producers may access management information. The factor analysis procedure was utilized to determine the underlying common factors which represented the sources and methods that are used to access management information. Multivariate tobit regression analysis was used to determine the influence producer, operation, and management characteristics had on trust for the underlying factors which represent the sources and methods of information. Summary statistics from this research provide relevant information and show the average level of trust survey respondents have in the sources and methods included. While the models were unable to identify key producer, operation, and management characteristics that are significant drivers of trust, the results of these models do provide insights that may be useful in guiding future research. Producer trust for a number of the sources and methods will likely continue to shift as new technology continues to be integrated into the beef operations and new information is discovered.

Animal agriculture plays a vital role in the provision of food for the world population; however, in the wake of global warming and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the industry has been under scrutiny as one of the net emitters causing global warming. The same scrutiny applies to beef production in western Canada. The objective of this study is to evaluate the economic impact of GHG mitigation practices (GHGMP) for beef operations, and in the process identify economic and environmental sustainable scenarios. This study was an extension to a study by Beauchemin et al (2011) who studied the mitigation of GHG emissions from beef production in western Canada A beef simulation model was developed to measure the impacts of adopting GHGMPs on the profitability of a mixed farm in Vulcan County, Southern Alberta. Feed for the herd was produced on the farm, and calves were born and finished on the farm. Whole farm gross margin was used as a profitability measure of the farm over a period of 9 years, which is a full beef production cycle. Eleven GHGMPs were examined and compared to the baseline scenario. These scenarios were adopted from Beauchemin et al (2011), and included dietary modifications (change in use of forages, use of canola seed, and corn distillers grains, and improvement in quality of forage), and improvement in animal husbandry (increased weaning rates, and increased longevity of breeding stock). Simulation results showed a discounted whole farm gross margin of $11.38 per acre for the baseline scenario. Feed costs accounted for 47.1 percent of total costs of beef production. The change in whole farm gross margin per acre from implementation of different GHGMPs ranged from an increase of 4 percent to a decrease of 5 percent. Six scenarios were identified as ‘win-win’ scenarios as they improved both environment and economics of the farm. The profit of these scenarios ranged from $238.11 to $30.31 per tonne of GHG reductions expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent). The loss from the other scenarios capable of reducing GHG emissions range from $92.06 to $582.46 per tonne GHG reduced. Based on these results, it was concluded that western Canadian beef producers can adopt sustainable GHGMPs without substantial changing the structure of their operations. Scenarios that improved both the environment and the economics of the farm were: Scenario 7: use of corn distillers dried grain (CDDG) in finishing ration; Scenario 4: use of canola seed in finishing ration; Scenario 8: use of CDDG in breeding stock ration; Scenario 10: increased calve weaning rate (85% to 90%); Scenario 5: use of canola seed in breeding stock ration; and Scenario 9 : improved hay for breeding stock.

<div> This study uses a choice experiment to investigate consumer preference for beef when faced with a tradeoff between increased animal welfare and lower levels of environmental impact. Results were obtained via an online survey consisting of 1,559 participants from the U.S. in Summer 2019. Participants were shown one of three presentation designs, as well as one of three information treatments (control, pro-environment, and pro-animal welfare). Consumers were shown to have significantly higher WTP for animal welfare attributes than environmentally friendly characteristics. </div><div>\par Participants which were shown the purely informational design regarded only price and whether the beef was grassfed and free of added growth hormones when choosing. The second presentation used sizing and coloring to convey environmental impact, producing higher WTP for environmental attributes and slightly lower WTP for animal welfare qualities. Participants in the third design were shown packages of ground beef with labels in place of the attribute levels. These participants had the least variance between attribute WTP and had 1.5-2 times greater WTP for a meat option than the other presentation treatments. </div><div>\par Pro-animal welfare information had the highest effect within the informational design, which had the highest overall WTP for animal welfare attributes. The visual presentation was influenced most heavily by the pro-environment information. Information treatments had no effect on the labels presentation.</div><div>\par While improvements in farm animal welfare might coincide with environmental improvements, the two issues can often come into conflict, particularly when it comes to greater intensification of production systems. This study aims to determine consumer preferences for ground beef when faced with a tradeoff between increased animal welfare and lower levels of environmental impact. A discrete choice experiment was conducted with over 1,500 U.S. consumers in mid-2019. Because of the high degree of consumer unfamiliarity likely associated with animal welfare and environmental impacts of beef production, we sought to determine the sensitivity of results by systematically varying how attributes were presented (textually, visually, or via labels) and what information was available to respondents (control, pro-environment, or pro-animal welfare). If shown only textual attribute information, consumers were unresponsive to environmental impacts such as land use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions; these issues were more impactful when communicated visually or via labels. Using pictures of ground beef with labels significantly increased the odds one of the meat options was chosen relative to treatments that presented choices in tabular form. Avoidance of the use of added growth hormones was one of the preferable seven attributes studied. Providing pro-environment or pro-animal welfare information had small, but statistically significant impacts on consumer choice. Overall, results suggest consumers are willing to trade environment for animal welfare, but the extent of this tradeoff strongly depends on how the attributes are presented.</div>

The high feed grain prices of the last few years and the resulting high prices for heavy feeder cattle relative to lightweight feeder calves may provide economic incentives to market cattle from rangelands as yearlings. A majority of the economic studies investigating the profitability of retained ownership of beef calves to sell as yearlings have used a budgeting technique to compare a straight cow-yearling operation retaining all calves, to a straight cow-calf operation selling all calves. In this study linear programming was used to develop an optimum combination of various livestock marketing alternatives for maximizing net ranch income. Two typical Utah ranch sizes (150 and 300 head of brood cows) were modeled and optimum range livestock marketing schemes were developed using linear programming analysis. Based on average Utah cattle prices for 1970-1975 the optimum range livestock management alternatives for both ranch sizes in terms of maximizing net ranch income was to reduce the cow herd 25 percent and use the released feed resources to retain all steer calves for sale as yearlings. Retention of heifer calves was not profitable a nd they were sold a t weaning . Net ranch income for the optimum strategy was only slightly higher than the income of the base cow-calf ope ration for the small ranch. The large ranch showed a larger gal.n in net ranch income from retention of yearlings . The capital requirement of the optimum strategies was three to five percent less than for the base cow-calf operations. A reduction in the size of the breeding herd to accommodate retained yearlings would result in a r eduction in the number of feeder livestock marketed. Potential decreases in U. S. beef production f rom 1 to 4 percent were estimated if 25-100 percent of the ranchers in the 11 western states adopted the optimum management alternative. These reductions would result in an increase in the price of beef in the U. S. of 1 to 6 percent.

To ascertain potential ecological and landowner benefits of non-conventional agricultural systems, this project was designed to monitor cattle production and mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) utilization of land areas that allowed grazing cattle to harvest corn planted with no-till methods. In 2005-2008, study sites were located in four counties of MS, including four steer/heifer-grazed and harvested corn fields (SHS) and four conventionally-managed and combine-harvested corn fields (CHS). Vegetation characteristics, residual grain quantities, and use by doves were measured on SHS and CHS. Steer average daily gains (ADG), quality grades, and feedlot days were compared to traditional cattle production methods. Mourning dove numbers were greater on SHS than CHS during all study years and site locations (F=37.19, df=1, P=0.001). Biomass of residual corn kernels on the soil surface was greater on SHS compared to CHS in the fall (t=7.22, df=8, P= 0.001). Percentage coverage of grasses and forbs was greater in SHS than CHS in fall following harvest of corn with grass/forbs coverage being >10% in SHS and <5% in CHS. Throughout all seasons, percentage of bare ground was greater on CHS (50% - 80%) compared to SHS (1%-13%). Among average daily gains of grassed, corn-grazed, and feedlot fed cattle, a significant difference was detected (x2 = 8.45, df = 2, P = 0.002). Corn-grazed ADG was greater than bermudagrass-grazed but less than MS steers in the feedlot. Comparing conventionally-produced cattle of comparable characteristics to corned cattle used in my study, a significant decrease in feedlot days (Z =-1.83, P = 0.033) with no difference in quality grades of meat (Z = -0.65, P = 0.256) in no-till corn-grazed cattle was indicated. After offsetting costs of field preparation, fencing, and cattle maintenance, landowners using this production system can potentially increase income by at least $450/ha from fee/lease of corn fields for hunting and production of quality beef cattle.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Michael W. Sanderson / Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), of which enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are a pathogenic sub-group, are foodborne pathogens of significant public health importance in the United States. STEC belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae commonly found in the large intestine of humans and other warm-blooded animals. EHEC harbors shiga toxin (stx1 and/or stx2) and eae genes which confers the ability to cause human illnesses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service declared seven STEC (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157) as adulterants in ground beef and non-intact beef products to reduce/eliminate the burden of the pathogens in the beef production chain. STEC control efforts in the U.S. include the development of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to identify mitigation strategies that are effective and economical in reducing exposure and reduce occurrence and public health risk from STEC in the beef chain. Collection of accurate and unbiased data is critical for the development of a QMRA that is valid for decision making. Determining the prevalence and concentration of the seven STEC in the different cattle types and seasons is valuable for the development a valid QMRA for STEC in beef production in the U.S. Our systematic review and meta-analysis study of the prevalence and concentration of E. coli O157 along the beef production chain indicated differences in the fecal prevalence of E. coli O157 among cattle types and seasons, revealed decreasing prevalence and concentration of E. coli O157 on cattle hides and carcass surfaces from pre-evisceration to the final chilled carcass stage, and identified study setting, detection method, hide or carcass swab area, and study design as significant sources of heterogeneity among studies reporting prevalence of E. coli O157 along the beef production chain. Bayesian estimation of the diagnostic performance of three laboratory methods (culture, conventional PCR [cPCR], and multiplex quantitative PCR [mqPCR]) used for the detection of the seven STEC in the feces of cattle is necessary to estimate true prevalence of EHEC in cattle. The analysis revealed highest sensitivity of mqPCR, followed by cPCR, and culture for the detection of E. coli O157; the cPCR and mqPCR had comparable specificity, but specificity of mqPCR method was heavily dependent on prior specification. The mqPCR method was the most sensitive for the detection O26, O45, and O103 serogroups. The cPCR method was more sensitive than the culture method for serogroups O26, and O121, but comparable for serogroups O45, O103, O111, and O145. The cPCR method showed higher specificity than mqPCR within serogroups O45, O121, and O145 but no apparent differences within serogroups O26, O103, and O111. A second order quantitative microbial risk assessment was developed to quantify the prevalence and concentration of the seven STEC on pre-evisceration beef carcasses and evaluate the impact of peri-harvest interventions. Simulation scenarios of current industry peri-harvest intervention practices showed variable effectiveness in reducing STEC contamination on pre-evisceration beef carcass, however, a scenario of increased adoption of peri-harvest interventions was more effective at reducing STEC contamination. Fecal-to-hide transfer and hide-to-carcass transfer had a large effect on prevalence and concentration of STEC on pre-evisceration carcasses.

Utah ranchers commonly face risks to their livelihoods. The objective of this work was to determine if ranchers could make profitable improvements to private land forage given the combined threat of low beef prices, drought, and possible loss of public grazing. We used linear programming (LINDO) to identify the most profitable solutions for private land investment with an 11-year simulation. Operations were divided into small, medium, and large size classes. Various forage improvements and public permits were options. Two phases of a beef price cycle (peak and trough) and 2 precipitation patterns (wet and drought) were combined as joint favorable or unfavorable scenarios. Simulations were run for each size class of operation under each scenario with a 0, 50, or 100% cut in public grazing. The analysis was based upon a partial ranch budget, namely, cattle and forage revenue less forage investment costs. Under the favorable scenario of adequate precipitation and higher beef prices, all operations followed similar patterns of increasing herd size, retaining calves for sale as yearlings, selling alfalfa hay and barley, and treating various forages for enhanced production. All operations exhibited a positive net present value (NPV) over the 11 years. Reduction in access to public permits, however, reduced NPV more for medium-size operations most dependent on public grazing. Under the unfavorable scenario, operation size affected response to combined effects of drought and low beef prices. Small and medium operations decreased brood herds while large operations tended to increase brood herds. Reductions in public grazing lowered NPV more for the small and medium operations compared to the large operations. Work revealed 3 thresholds that could limit profitability of forage investment. These included: (1) dependency on public grazing for> 15% of total annual forage; (2) operation size <2001 >acres; and (3) beef prices of Across all scenarios and operations it was generally profitable to improve 4 forage types that filled gaps at different seasons to the year: wet meadow, alfalfa hay, irrigated pasture, and crested wheatgrass. Irrigated pasture was most important when precipitation was high, illustrating risks of irrigation in this dry environment.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:40:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ELIANA TIBA GOMES GRANDE.pdf: 20259156 bytes, checksum: e966b56d59dd707573bd0634c9b2a73e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-04-09 / Since 2008, Brazil has been the largest beef exporter worldwide and also has had. The largest commercial beef herd in the world, which is around 205.3 million animals (IBGE, 2009). Remaining on the top of the ranking depends on technology implementations in the industry and a greater knowledge of the entire production process of beef cattle, mainly the identification of bottlenecks. The RFID technology, which is based on automatic transmission of data, has become a useful tool in various aspects of any productive sector. Throughout this technology one is able not only to track their products throughout the production process, but also do inventory control, logistics, quality control, with constant monitoring of temperature and moisture, which are essential for health y food, all done automatically in real time . The objective of this work was to analyze a solution for the control of traceability in the production process of a slaughter house using RFID technology. This monitoring can be accompanied from anywhere, and anytime because the RFID system uses the middleware that processes data read by the physical layer and provides them to various environments such as the Web. As a result to analyze has the confirmation of the feasibility of using RFID technology in such an unusual environment as the example of the production process in a slaughter house. / O Brasil, desde 2008, é o maior exportador de carne bovina no contexto mundial. Nele se concentra o maior rebanho comercial do mundo: cerca de 205,3 milhões de animais (IBGE, 2009). A permanência no topo do ranking depende das implementações tecnológicas no setor e de um maior conhecimento do processo produtivo de toda a cadeia da carne bovina, principalmente no que se refere à identificação dos pontos de gargalos. A tecnologia RFID, baseada na transmissão automática dos dados, vem se tornando uma aliada em vários aspectos em qualquer setor produtivo. Através desta tecnologia, pode ser possível não somente rastrear seus produtos durante todo o processo produtivo, mas também fazer controle de estoque, de logística, controle de qualidade com o monitoramento constante da temperatura e umidade, essencial à sanidade do alimento, tudo feito automaticamente em tempo real. Objetivou-se nesta dissertação analisar uma solução para a continuidade da rastreabilidade iniciada pelo SISBOV no contexto do processo produtivo de um frigorífico utilizando a tecnologia RFID. Este monitoramento pode ser acompanhado de qualquer lugar, a qualquer hora, pois a solução analisada possui um midlleware que processa dos dados lidos pela camada física e disponibiliza-os para vários ambientes, tais como a Web. Como resultados da análise têm-se a confirmação da viabilidade da utilização da tecnologia RFID em um ambiente tão incomum como é o caso do processo produtivo de um frigorífico.