Beef cattle production in the southeastern United States differs in size, practice, and production type from other U.S. regions. Smaller, cow-calf type operations dominate in this region because the climate, forage availability, and other land use practices of farmers make this type of cattle operation more ideal for the Southeast. This research summarizes the current practices and characteristics that define the Southeastern cow-calf operation of today’s market and operating environment; it also examines the factors that influence the variability of beef production in these operations. Results indicate the following major points: 1.) 53.0% of respondents with commercial cows have fewer than 50 head. 2.) Weaning weight and its variability tend to increase as calves get older. 3.) Calves on seedstock operations wean heavier than those typical of cow-calf operations. 4.) Operators that are more financially invested in their operation seem to be more attentive to outcomes of their production process.

В условиях повышающейся глобальной конкуренции на рынках промышленной продукции крупные промышленные предприятия все чаще сталкиваются с проблемами адаптации к ситуациям, возникающим в турбулентной внешней среде. Одним из первых шагов к успешной адаптации к условиям такой внешней среды является целенаправленное и последовательное управление производственными системами на основе единой стратегии. Одним из неотъемлемых элементов стратегического мышления являются системные подходы к оценке и управлению производственными рисками. / In the face of increasing global competition in industrial production markets, large industrial enterprises are increasingly confronted with problems of adaptation to situations arising in turbulent environments. One of the first steps towards successful adaptation to the conditions of such an external environment is the purposeful and consistent management of production systems on the basis of a unified strategy. One of the integral elements of strategic thinking are system approaches to the assessment and management of operational risks.