Economics of Smaller Aberdeen-Derived Beef Cows

Abstract

We investigate differences in profitability of three Aberdeen-influenced breeds, Angus, Red Angus, and American Aberdeen. Using data from North Dakota, we measure differences in birth weights, calving intervals, weaning weights, cow weights, and profitability. Weaning weights differ between breeds, setting up a trade-off between lower feed costs for smaller cows and higher revenue for larger cows. American Aberdeen-influenced cows bred to Red Angus bulls have $1–$6 per acre higher returns than Angus or Red Angus-influenced cows. Aberdeen sires have the lowest returning calves.

Economic Comparison of Spring-Calving Dates and Cold Injury in the US Southern Plains

“…A herd distribution from Bir et al (2018) and a cull rate at each age from DeVuyst et al, (2021) were used with the weaning weight equation to create a distribution of weaning weights and cull cow weights. Cull cow price was taken from LMIC (2020).…”

“…where the feed cost is the cost of feed for cow-age i in year t with respect to calving date, Cubes it expresses the quantity of cubes for pair i in year t , CubePrice t is the price of cubes in year t , and Hay it is the quantity of hay required given pair i and year t assuming 20% hay loss (DeVuyst et al, 2021), HayPrice t expresses the price of hay in year t , Forage it is the quantity of forage (pounds) required for pair i in year t , ForageYield is forage yield (pounds per acre), 25% is the assumed forage utilization rate (DeVuyst et al, 2021), and RentalRate expresses the cost of renting land.…”

“…Feed cost was determined given cube cost, hay cost, and forage cost for each year, cow age, and calving date. Annual veterinary expense was assumed at $25 per cow, and an annual bull cost of $50 per cow (Munson et al, 2022). Fixed costs were ignored as they do not change with the calving date.…”

“…Hay it is the quantity of hay required given pair i and year t assuming 20% hay loss (DeVuyst et al, 2021), HayPrice t expresses the price of hay in year t, Forage it is the quantity of forage (pounds) required for pair i in year t, ForageYield is forage yield (pounds per acre), 25% is the assumed forage utilization rate (DeVuyst et al, 2021), and RentalRate expresses the cost of renting land.…”