THE ECONOMICS OF VALUE ENHANCEMENT AND VERTICAL LINKAGES IN LIVESTOCK AND AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRIES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0216066
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2014
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078

Performing Department
Unknown Department

Non Technical Summary
Marketing challenges and opportunities abound in todays agri-food system. Though the catalyst may be market related (e.g. consumer preferences, industry consolidation, technological change) policy related (e.g. Country of Origin Labeling), or both (e.g. source and age verification in cattle), the impacts are often felt across production sectors and throughout the supply chain. This research provides economic analysis of these change catalysts, of potential responses to the associated challenges and opportunities, and of associated supply chain behavior. Particular emphasis is placed on value enhancement in the livestock industry and implications for Oklahoma livestock producers and processors. Research results will be used to inform production and marketing strategies for agri-food system participants.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
307	6199	3010	33%
603	6299	3010	33%
607	3320	3010	34%

Knowledge Area
603 - Market Economics; 607 - Consumer Economics; 307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
6199 - Economy, general/other; 3320 - Meat, beef cattle; 6299 - Marketing, general/other;

Field Of Science
3010 - Economics;

Keywords

livestock

marketing

value added

supply chain

Goals / Objectives
In general, this research seeks to provide economic analysis of production and marketing challenges facing the agri-food system, including those induced by market forces, technology, and policy issues, with particular emphasis on the livestock industry and implications for Oklahoma livestock producers and processors. Specific objectives are to: 1. Assess the economic impacts of changes in production and management practices at the production/marketing interface in livestock and agri-food industries. The project work will focus on cost-benefit relationships of value added production/management/marketing practices as well as on producer-level economic impacts of policy induced production and/or management changes such as Country of Origin Labeling, the National Animal Identification System, or limits on antibiotic use. 2. Analyze the incentives, constraints, and economic impacts related to value enhancement marketing strategies and supply chain coordination choices on market participants and on the industry as a whole. This objective focuses on increasing our understanding of supply chain behavior. It will examine individual coordination choices as related to the supply chain, the role of reputation and information in pricing decisions, and industry impacts of mandated and voluntary production, management and marketing practices. 3. Contribute to the broader discipline of economics by assessing the reliability of existing new empirical industrial organization (NEIO) methods of market structure assessment, developing new methods, and/or expanding existing methods for examining economic impacts of changing horizontal and vertical market structure in agricultural and livestock industries on industry participants, including livestock producers.

Project Methods
Objective 1 will use primary data, including physical performance data and cost data, collected through on-farm experiments (likely with OSU Animal Science, Noble Foundation) combined with econometric analysis to examine cost-benefit relationships of production and management practices (e.g. sorting and managing calves according to health risk variables). Point-of-sale data may also be employed to determine the economic value of specific value enhancement activities. Secondary data from sources such as the Livestock Information Marketing Center, Agricultural Marketing Service, industry sources and National Agricultural Statistics Service may also be used. Techniques such as hedonic modeling may be used to determine the contribution of specific production and management practices to overall price. To accomplish objective 2, primary data from market participants will collected in the form of surveys to analyze incentives and constraints related to specific supply chain decisions and to better define the role of reputation in agricultural marketing. Secondary data may also be collected (as pertinent for particular objective components) from sources such as the Livestock Information Marketing Center, Agricultural Marketing Service, industry sources and National Agricultural Statistics Service. As in Objective 1, the breadth of topics in this objective lends itself to a breadth of methodologies. Binary regression models can inform how specific characteristics contribute to producer choices using primary survey data. Examples of other possible methods include case study methodology to identify key components of behavior which can then be used to inform more sophisticated econometric modeling, mathematical programming models used to represent economic impacts under different behavior scenarios, and simulation techniques to project changes in costs, profits, or product flows using a combination of physical and economic data. Objective 3 will rely heavily on production economics theory and industrial organization theory. It will require Monte Carlo experiments using econometrics and mathematical programming to assess the reliability of existing methods. The development of new methods and extension of existing methods will also draw heavily upon production economics theory, industrial organization theory, and supply chain management theory. Empirical implementation of these methods will require econometric and statistical practices and the use of secondary data. Likely sources of secondary data include the U.S. Bureau of the Census and United States Department of Agriculture.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The primary target audience for the project was livestock industry participants, with agri-food supply chain participants as a secondary audience. Research findings were disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, but also directly to the target audience via producer groups and extension educators with written extension publications, in-service trainings, newsletters and educational meetings. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? In-service trainings were provided to extension educators in order to communicate research findings relevant to their clientele. The project leader also participated in conferences with selected papers and poster presentations, providing opportunities for networking and discussion of future collaborations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Research findings from the project were disseminated directly to producer groups through extension meetings, decision tools, producer conferences, newsletter articles, the press, and extension fact sheets. Approximately 30 instances are formally reported here. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal (1): Project accomplishments for this objective include analysis of both policy induced and voluntary changes in production/management practices at the producer level as well as policy fueled changes in international market relationships at the consumer level. A policy induced ban on sub-therapeutic antibiotics in the swine industry is analyzed using average cost data and physical production data. Research findings suggest that while economies of scale would still be important, the ban would potentially limit or reduce economies of scale in the swine industry. An analysis of voluntary adoption of food safety practices, using fresh strawberries as an example, suggests that the ability to bear the cost of positive consumer information campaigns regarding certification varies between supply regions and across marketing months. An examination of the Mexican cheese market post-NAFTA finds that the composition of products demanded by consumers changed considerably, including an increase in overall quantity of cheese imported from the U.S., but a decrease in the U.S. share of the market. Findings suggest that Mexican consumers are less price sensitive about U.S. cheese and that promotional alternatives to price competition may be successful. Work in the beef industry focused on cull cow value and feeder calf value. A portion of project work focused on increasing the salvage value of cull beef cows. Research found that a low cost retention system can increase net returns for cull cows and that initial body condition score is a useful decision tool for sorting cull cows for immediate marketing versus retention. Analysis of data collected at feeder calf sales measured premiums associated with specific practices as well as the likelihood of profitability from practice adoption, again providing key information to related educational programming. Goal (2): Project accomplishments related to analysis of adoption of value enhancement marketing strategies and supply chain coordination choices primarily focus on the beef industry and the production/marketing interface at the cow-calf level. Project work related to feeder calf management and marketing practices, as well as stocker calf management, has important implications for encouraging best practice adoption by producers. Analysis of survey data from Oklahoma cow-calf and stocker producers examines demographic patterns of best practice adoption, providing key information to related targeted educational programming encouraging best practice adoption. Goal (3): Ongoing work is expanding NEIO methodology to assess market relationships at multiple supply chain levels in the beef industry. Completed work used time series analysis to examine the impact of counter-seasonal imports on domestic price relationships in a fresh produce market. We evaluate differences in regional spatial price relationships and find statistical evidence that price relationships among regions are different in periods dominated by regional domestic supplies compared with periods when counter-seasonal imports dominate the market.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Williams, Brian R., Eric A. DeVuyst, Derrell S. Peel and Kellie Curry Raper. Reducing Self-Selection Bias in Feeder Cattle Premium Estimates Using Matched Sampling. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.39(1):124-138. April 2014
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Amadou, Zakou, Kellie Curry Raper, Jon T. Biermacher, Billy Cook and Clement Ward. Net Returns from Feeding Cull Beef Cows: The Influence of Beginning Body Condition Score. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 46(1):139-155. February 2014.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Williams, Brian R., Eric A. DeVuyst, Derrell S. Peel and Kellie Curry Raper. The Likelihood of Positive Returns from Value-Added Calf Management Practices. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economic 46(1):125-138. February 2014
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Williams, Brian R., Kellie Curry Raper, Eric A. DeVuyst, Derrell Peel, David Lalman, Chris Richards, and Damona Doye. Demographic Factors Affecting the Adoption of Multiple Value-Added Practices by Oklahoma Cow-Calf Producers. Journal of Extension, Volume 51-6(December 2013): Article 6FEA7. Accessible at http://www.joe.org/joe/2013december/pdf/JOE_v51_6a7.pdf
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Raper, Kellie Curry, Jon T. Biermacher, and Zakou Amadou. Marketing Cull Beef Cows: Does Body Condition Score Matter? Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC 627, March 2014. Available at http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-9258/AGEC-627web.pdf
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Raper, Kellie Curry, Eric DeVuyst, Derrell Peel and Gant Mourer. Oklahoma Quality Beef Network: Summary of Fall 2013 Sales. Cow-Calf Corner, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, March 3, 2014. *Republished on Drovers CattleNetwork, March 4, 2014 at http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Oklahoma-Quality-Beef-Network-Summary-of-Fall-2013-sales-248227091.html *Republished on Oklahoma Farm Report, Radio Oklahoma Network, March 4, 2014 at http://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/wire/news/2014/03/06688_OQBNSummary03042014b_185531.php#.UzWY7z9OXcs *Republished in Oklahoma Cowman, Official Publication of the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association. Volume 53, Number 4, Page 76. April 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Biermacher, J.T., K. Curry Raper, and B.J. Cook. Alternative Culling Method Increases Profits. Ag News and Views, Noble Foundation Press, July, 2014. *Republished on Oklahoma Farm Report, Radio Oklahoma Network, July 8, 2014 at http://oklahomafarmreport.com/wire/news/2014/07/08020_AlternativeCullingIncreasesProfit070814_105748.php#.U71kx7Hb5bt
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Raper, Kellie Curry, Eric DeVuyst, Derrell Peel and Gant Mourer. Oklahoma Quality Beef Network: Summary of Fall 2013 Sales. Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 22, Page 4-5, March 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Raper, Kellie Curry and Jon T. Biermacher. Marketing Cull Cows: Does Body Condition Score Matter? Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 21, Page 2, December 2013.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Pruitt, Ross, Kellie Curry Raper, and Derrell S. Peel. Factors Affecting the Beef Choice-Select Spread. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC 625, November 2013. (This fact sheet is also published as LSU AgCenter Publication #3332)
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Raper, Kellie Curry. Are You Leaving Money on the Table? Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 23, Page 6, June 2014.

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: No changes to report Changes/Problems: No changes or problems What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation partnered in earlier years of the cull cow retention project by providing cattle, retention facilities, feed, and data collection. The Foundation continues to collaborate on research related to the experiment, including co-authorship on related papers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results were disseminated in various professional outlets (journal articles, presentations and extension presentations). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Impacts Probit analysis of data from a survey of Oklahoma cow-calf producers indicates that smaller cow-calf producers are more likely to be non-adopters of value-added calf practices. Producer participation in training such as extension programming or Beef Quality Assurance courses decrease the likelihood of non-adoption. An analysis of premium differences between steers and heifers found that while feeder steers garnered higher market premiums for health management program certification than heifers, heifers were discounted less than steers for many phenotypic characteristics. This, combined with continuing research, informs educational programming about enhancing the value and profitability of calf marketing in cow-calf operations. Cull cow marketing research reveals that retaining cows beyond culling in a low-cost feeding system can enhance net returns of cow-calf producers. Both of these outcomes will inform future research and educational programming. An analysis of voluntary adoption of food safety practices, using fresh strawberries as an example, suggests that the ability to bear the cost of positive consumer information campaigns regarding certification varies between supply regions and across marketing months.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Primary project outputs include (1) analysis of producer’s non-adoption of value added calf management practices using data from the Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing survey, (2) continuing analysis of the value of health management protocols for feeder calves, including whether values differ for steers versus heifers (3) a comparison of alternative retention and marketing strategies for increasing the salvage value of cull beef cows, and (4) analysis of the impact of third-party certification of value added practices in the agri-food industry.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Amadou, Zakou, Kellie Curry Raper, Jon T. Biermacher, Billy Cook and Clement Ward. Alternative Retention and Marketing Strategies for Cull Beef Cows. Journal of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Volume 76(1):248-267. 2013. Thornsbury, Suzanne, Mollie Woods, and Kellie Curry Raper. Beyond Market Access: Value from Food Safety Certification of Fresh Strawberries. Agribusiness: An International Journal 28-4 (Autumn 2012):469-482. Senior Authorship Equally Shared. Newsletter Articles: Raper, Kellie Curry and Jon T. Biermacher. Looking Toward Fall: Alternative Management of Cull Beef Cows. Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 19, Page 6, June 2013. Raper, Kellie Curry, Eric DeVuyst, Derrell Peel and Gant Mourer. Oklahoma Quality Beef Network: Summary of Fall 2012 Sales. Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 18, Page 4-5, March 2013. Abstracts from Selected Papers Presented: Schumacher, Stephanie, Derrell S. Peel and Kellie Curry Raper. Non-Adoption of Best Management Practices: Demographics and Adoption Constraints of Oklahoma Cattle Producers. Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, February 3-5, 2013. Thesis: Stephanie Schumacher, Factors Limiting Producer Adoption of Value-Added Management and Marketing Practices and Determining Value Differences for Steers and Heifers. M.S., December 2012.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Primary project outputs include (1) analysis of value added practice adoption using data from the Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing survey, (2) continuing analysis of value added potential from the retention of cull beef cows for delayed marketing, in collaboration with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and (3) analysis of the value of third-party certification of value added practices in the agri-food industry. Outputs generated by each primary focus are discussed below. Outputs related to activity (1) include dissemination of findings through a conference presentation and a primary component of the thesis of a student's completed masters of science thesis. Activity (2) has resulted in a field day presentation to masters level ranch management program students and in-service training for county, district and state agricultural educators and specialists to communicate findings of this activity. Activity (3) has generated a television interview broadcast on a weekly agricultural program through Oklahoma Public Radio highlighted the results of analysis of Oklahoma Quality Beef Network sales of certified value-added feeder calves and benefits to producers who participate in the program. OQBN results were also disseminated through a series of sale summary reports distributed to participating livestock markets and county, district and state educators and specialists who work with cattlemen, as well as in a quarterly publication targeting livestock producers. Additionally, a poster communicated the impact of the OQBN program at a national conference. This activity also contributed two of three major components of a completed PhD dissertation and one of two major components of a completed masters of science thesis. An in-service training session was also conducted for county, area and state agricultural educators and specialists regarding the knowledge gained from this activity. PARTICIPANTS: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation partnered in earlier years of the cull cow retention project by providing cattle, retention facilities, feed, and data collection. The Foundation continues to collaborate on research related to the experiment, including service on a PhD student's committee and co-authorship on related papers. TARGET AUDIENCES: Cow-calf producers are the primary group targeted in educational efforts related to the project. Research findings from the project were disseminated directly to producer groups through extension meetings and producer conferences, as well as indirectly through in-service trainings provided to extension educators for use in meetings and through publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Changes

Impacts
Analysis of the Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing survey has shown that cow-calf producers' adoption rates of various value-added management practices differs among regions of the state. Cull cow marketing research reveals that retaining cows beyond culling in a low-cost feeding system can enhance net returns of cow-calf producers. Both of these outcomes will inform future research and educational programming. Though extended drought in the Southern Plains continues to alter cow-calf producers' marketing decisions, producers still see value in the OQBN program and those fortunate to have the necessary resources to complete the requirements benefitted from adopting the practices required in this health management program. Though the number of calves marketed through the program decreased significantly from the 2010-2011 marketing season due to drought-induced early marketing, the premiums paid to participating producers in the 2011-2012 season were relatively stable.

Publications

• Raper, Kellie Curry, Derrell Peel, Eric DeVuyst, and Doug McKinney. "Improving Beef Quality One Herd at a Time: The Oklahoma Quality Beef Network." Selected Poster presented at Food Distribution Research Society annual conference, Portland, Oregon. October 16-19, 2011.
• Thornsbury, Suzanne, Mollie Woods, and Kellie Curry Raper. "Beyond Market Access: Value from Food Safety Certification of Fresh Strawberries." Agribusiness: An International Journal 28-4 (Autumn 2012):469-482. Senior Authorship Equally Shared.
• Schumacher, Stephanie, Kellie Curry Raper and Derrell Peel. "Cow Calf Producer Perceptions of Incentives for Value Added Management Practice Adoption." Selected Paper at Western Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Park City, UT, June 21-23, 2012.
• Williams, Galen S., Kellie Curry Raper, Eric A. DeVuyst, Derrell Peel, and Doug McKinney. "Determinants of Price Differentials in Oklahoma Value-Added Feeder Cattle Auctions." Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 37-1(April 2012):115-128.
• Raper, Kellie Curry, Eric DeVuyst, Derrell Peel and Doug McKinney. "Oklahoma Quality Beef Network: Summary of Fall 2011 Sales." Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 14, Page 4-5, March 2012
• Williams, Brian, Kellie Curry Raper, Eric DeVuyst, Derrell Peel, David Lalman, Chris Richards and Damona Doye. "Demographic Factors Affecting the Adoption of Multiple Value-Added Practices by Oklahoma Cow-Calf Producers." Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Birmingham, AL, February 4-7, 2012.
• Williams, Galen S. and Kellie Curry Raper. "An Automated Data Analysis Tool for Livestock Market Data" Journal of Extension, Volume 49-6(December 2011): Article 6TOT7.
• Raper, Kellie, and J.T. Biermacher. "Alternative Strategies for Managing and Marketing Cull Cows." 2011 TCU Ranch Management Program Field Day, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. Oswalt, Oklahoma, November, 14, 2011.
• Raper, Kellie Curry. "OQBN Update." Taped Television Interview at OKC West Stockyards, El Reno, OK for SUNUP TV, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University. Episode aired November 11, 2011. Available at http://www.oqbn.okstate.edu or at http://www.youtube.com/watchv=DZPvCIYjFjc

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project output for the reporting period includes multiple activities, products and methods of dissemination. Activities included (1) continued analysis of the Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing survey as related to the value added practice adoption of Oklahoma cattlemen, (2) continued analysis of data collected in a cull cow feeding and marketing experiment conducted jointly with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and (3) continued collection and analysis of livestock sale data as related to the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network calf health management program. Products generated through this project during the reporting period include (1) the completion of a master's degree in Agricultural Economics with a focus on value added beef marketing, (2) the development of a research-based decision tool that can be tailored to an individual producer's operation and aids in the decision of whether to precondition calves as well as in the timing of the marketing choice, (3) the development of a data analysis tool that facilitates rapid feedback on program results, and (4) results results that indicate that premiums for health management practices vary by calf weight. Dissemination of research results from analysis of 2010 Oklahoma Quality Beef Network sales to Oklahoma cattlemen has been conducted via multiple channels. One dissemination avenue is through a feature of research results on Sun Up, a statewide weekly tv news program focused on agriculture. Research results have also been disseminated through multiple in-service programs for Cooperative Extension Service educators for use in education programming targeted to Oklahoma livestock producers. Resulting educational materials such as Fact Sheets have been publicized and made readily accessible to producers and to educators online. Articles highlighting research results have also appeared in a quarterly newsletter that reaches OSU Master Cattlemen program graduates. A research seminar was also conducted for the Noble Foundation's producer cooperators who participate in their value added calf health management program. PARTICIPANTS: No Changes TARGET AUDIENCES: No Changes PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Changes

Impacts
The Oklahoma Quality Beef Network value added health management program for cow/calf producers saw a significant increase in producer participation, livestock market participation, and number of calves sold in 2010 over 2009. Approximately 10,000 calves sold at 8 fall sales in 2010, representing an increase of 120% from 2009. This increased participation is directly tied to dissemination of research on premiums for value added health management programs as well as to the creation and dissemination of decision tools related to preconditioning cattle. Research results suggest that, overall, the program added a total of $862,500 in value to Oklahoma calves at the ranch level.

Publications

• Brooks, Kathleen, Kellie Curry Raper, Clement E. Ward, Ben Holland, Clint Kreihbel and D.L. Step. "Economic Effects of Bovine Respiratory Disease on Feedlot Cattle during Backgrounding and Finishing Phases." Professional Animal Scientist, Volume 27(2011):195-203.
• Williams, Galen S., Kellie Curry Raper, Eric A. DeVuyst, Derrell Peel, Doug McKinney, Blake Bloomberg, David Lalman, Chris Richards, Damona Doye, and Daniel Stein. "Price Premiums of the 2010 Oklahoma Quality Beef Network." Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet. AGEC 624, August 2011.
• Raper, Kellie Curry, Eric DeVuyst, and Daniel Stein. "Does Precondtioning Pay A Benefit-Cost Decision Tool." Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC 621, 2011.
• Kellie Curry Raper, Eric A. DeVuyst, and Daniel Stein. "Does Preconditioning Pay A Benefit-Cost Decision Tool." Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 10, Page 6-7, March 2011.
• McKinney, Doug, Eric DeVuyst, Kellie Curry Raper, and Galen Williams. "Oklahoma Quality Beef Network: Summary of Fall 2010 Sales." Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 10, Page 4, March 2011. Devuyst, Eric A., Kellie Curry Raper, and Daniel Stein. "Oklahoma Quality Beef Network Budgeting Tool." Available at www.agecon.okstate.edu/faculty/publications/3943.xlsx. 2011.
• James. J. Jones and Kellie Curry Raper. "Meat Goat Marketing and Price Seasonality." Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC 622, November 2010.
• Amadou, Zakou, Kellie Curry Raper, Jon T. Biermacher, Billy J. Cook and Clement E. Ward. "Determining Key Factors of Influence on the Profitability of Retaining Cull Cows Beyond Culling". Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Corpus Christi, TX, February 4-6, 2011.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project output for the reporting periods includes data collection from the Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing survey of cow/calf producers to assess current production management practices, current marketing practices, and constraints to value added activities. Survey analysis is ongoing and is expected to contribute significantly to the project. Other project output includes data collection and analysis for the third year of a three year experiment involving alternative management and marketing practices for cull cows. Project results were distributed through a variety of outlets, including journal publications, research presentations to academic and professional audiences, extension fact sheets, and in-service training sessions for extension personnel who advise producers, as well as through educational programming activities for beef producers conducted by the investigator. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty members in the Agricultural Economics Department, Animal Science Department at Oklahoma State University. Personnel from The Noble Foundation - Ardmore, Oklahoma; Graduate students in the Agricultural Economics Department at Oklahoma State University TARGET AUDIENCES: No Changes PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Changes

Impacts
A three year study of cull cow retention and feeding indicates that cows with lower beginning body condition scores (BBCS) at culling (less than 4.5) generated higher net returns in a retention setting than did cows with higher BBCS. Additionally, feeding cows in a pasture/forage setting beyond the culling date generated higher net returns than feeding cows in a drylot setting.

Publications

• Ramirez, Miguel A., Kraig M. Jones, Francisco Arellano, and Kellie Curry Raper. "The Demand for Imported Cheese in Mexico." Journal of Food Products Marketing, Volume 16-4 (2010):418-429. Senior Authorship Equally Shared.
• Kellie Curry Raper, Eric DeVuyst, and Damona Doye. "A Beef Cattle Retention Decision Aid." Journal of Extension, Volume 48-4(August 2010): Article 4TOT6.
• Johnson, Rachel, Damona Doye, David Lalman, Derrell Peel, Kellie Curry Raper, and Chan Jin Chung. "Factors Affecting Adoption of Recommended Management Practices in Stocker Cattle Production." Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 42(February 2010):15-30.
• Brooks, Kathleen, Kellie Raper, Clement Ward, Ben Holland, Clint Krehbiel, and Douglas Step. "Economic Effects of Bovine Respiratory Disease on Feedlot Cattle During Backgrounding and Finishing Phases." Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University. Research Report P-1027. March 2010.
• Amadou, Zakou, Kellie Curry Raper, Jon Biermacher, Billy Cook, and Clement Ward. "Adding Value to Cull Cows: Part II." Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC-725. August 2010.
• Raper, Kellie Curry, Zakou Amadou, Clem Ward, Billy Cook, and Jon Biermacher. "Culling Time: Strategies for Adding Value to Cull Cows." Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 8, Page 2, September 2010.
• Raper, Kellie Curry. "Oklahoma Beef Management and Marketing Practices Survey Update." Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 6, Page 2-3, March 2010.
• Raper, Kellie Curry and Doug McKinney. "Oklahoma Quality Beef Network: Summary of Fall 2009 Sales." Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 6, Page 6-7, March 2010.
• Amadou, Z., J.T. Biermacher, K. Curry Raper, B.J. Cook, and C.E. Ward. "Alternative Management Strategies for Adding Value to Cull Cows." Proceedings of the 4th National Grazing Lands Conference, July 2010: 59-63.
• Amadou, Zakou, Kellie Curry Raper, Jon T. Biermacher, Billy J. Cook and Clement E. Ward. "Influence of Beginning Body Condition Scores on Net Returns From Feeding Cull Cows". Selected Paper at the Applied Agricultural Economics Associations Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, July 28-31, 2010.
• Sand, Shannon R., Kellie Curry Raper and Doug McKinney. "Constraints to Value-Added Management Practice Adoption for Cow-Calf Producers". Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting. Orlando, Florida. February 7-9, 2010.
• Pruitt, J. Ross and Kellie Curry Raper. "Trading Down The Impact of Recession on Meat Consumption". Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting. Orlando, Florida. February 7-9, 2010.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project output for the reporting periods includes implementation of a comprehensive survey of cow/calf producers to assess current production management practices, current marketing practices, and constraints to value added activities. Survey analysis is ongoing and is expected to contribute significantly to the project. Other project output includes an experiment involving alternative management and marketing practices for cull cows. Project results were distributed through a variety of outlets, including journal publications, research presentations to academic and professional audiences, extension fact sheets, and in-service training sessions for extension personnel and IFMAPS personnel who advise producers, as well as through educational programming activities for beef producers conducted by the investigator. PARTICIPANTS: N/A TARGET AUDIENCES: N/A PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: N/A

Impacts
Change in knowledge Recently published research examines the impact of a ban on sub-therapeutic antibiotics in the livestock industry. The impact of this policy on the swine industry is simulated using average cost data combined with physical production data. Results suggest that while economies of scale would still be important, the ban would potentially limit or reduce economies of scale in the swine industry. Collaborative research with Animal Science colleagues indicates that cost of gain in the post-weaning back-grounding phase increased significantly with the number of times a beef heifer had to be treated for Bovine Respiratory Disease. This research emphasizes the economic importance of management practices that limit calf exposure to BRD. Continuing research on managing cull cows for additional value in beef production provides evidence that non-traditional marketing strategies for cows culled from the beef herd can increase income under some circumstances. Results depend on producer resources, alternative feed costs, and market conditions.

Publications

• Hogberg, M., Raper, K.C. and Oehmke, J. (2009). Banning Subtherapeutic Antibiotics in U.S. Swine Production: A Simulation of Impacts on Industry Structure, Agribusiness: An International Journal, Volume 25(3, Summer 2009):314-330.
• Amadou, Z., Ward, C., Raper, K.C. , Cook, B. and Biermacher, J. 2009. Managing Cull Cows for Additional Value. Master Cattleman Quarterly, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Volume 3, June 2009.
• Amadou, Z., Ward, C. E., Raper, K.C., and Cook, B. (2009). Management Production Systems and Timing Strategies for Cull Cows. Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting. Atlanta, Georgia. February 1-3, 2009. Abstract published online in AgEconSearch: Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics at http://purl.umn.edu/46593.
• Brooks, K., Raper, K.C. , Ward, C., Kreihbel, C. and Holland, B. (2009). Economic Effects of Bovine Respiratory Disease on Feedlot Cattle during Backgrounding and Finishing Phases. Selected Paper at Southern Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting. Atlanta, Georgia. February 1-3, 2009. Abstract published online in AgEconSearch: Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics at http://purl.umn.edu/45849.
• Amadou, Z., Raper, K.C., Biermacher, J., Cook, B. and Ward, C. (2009). Adding Value to Cull Cows. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC-619.
• Ward, C.E. and Raper, K.C. (2009). Update on Beef Industry Alliances. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGEC-614.