Abstract / Description of output
A deterministic bio-economic model was developed to evaluate the effects of changes in breeds and mating systems in a beef enterprise whilst keeping management constant. The model simulates all aspects of beef production including the transition of the breed composition, the biological performance and the overall economic performance of animals within the herd, over time. Breed performance parameters are based on a synthesis of results from published beef breed comparison experiments. In order to illustrate how the model is implemented an example is given based on UK economic information. The model predicts physical and financial performance over a planning horizon of 20 years. For a hypothetical enterprise, changing from buying in surplus dairy cross heifers to a situation of self-replacing beef cows, the model demonstrated a financial advantage, due largely to a reduction in production costs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 403-416 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Animal science |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2003 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Beef herds
- Economics
- Mathematical models