One way for sheep producers to increase profitability is to lower costs associated with feed cons... more One way for sheep producers to increase profitability is to lower costs associated with feed consumption of their flocks. To reduce feed consumption, producers may use feed efficiency as a selection tool when making replacement decisions for breeding stock. A practical tool for range sheep producers may be the selection of replacement ewes based on their residual feed intake (RFI) value. RFI is the difference between actual feed intake and feed intake predicted for maintenance and production by linear regression. Using enterprise budgets, we examine how increases in a flock’s feed efficiency impact a sheep producer’s profits over time. There has been previous research on sheep RFI and the economics of feed efficiency; however, most of the previous data collected and analyzed have been on males or on sheep fed a concentrate diet. Our study focuses on RFI for females fed a forage-based diet, which may be more realistic for Wyoming producers.
... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial l... more ... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial liquidation, supplemental summer feeding proved to be a viable option to offset effects of drought to net income. RMID: 0020076042. ...
In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in ... more In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in the cattle market on revenues associated with continuous and rotational grazing systems. A price slide is a market phenomenon in which lighter cattle sell at a higher price per unit of liveweight compared with their heavier counterparts. We used actual herd average starting and ending weights in this market analysis, and analysed the outcome using five years’ data from a continuous and rotational comparative grazing study. Despite consistently lower weight gains with rotational grazing, differences in gross revenues per steer between grazing treatments ranged from US$43.46 to minus $5.72 across the study years. We observed annual differences in the net returns across years between the two grazing systems; net returns were greater for steers in the continuous grazing treatment in three of the five years, one year with net returns that did not differ between systems, and one year in which ...
In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in ... more In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in the cattle market on revenues associated with continuous and rotational grazing systems. A price slide is a market phenomenon in which lighter cattle sell at a higher price per unit of liveweight compared with their heavier counterparts. We used actual herd average starting and ending weights in this market analysis, and analysed the outcome using five years’ data from a continuous and rotational comparative grazing study. Despite consistently lower weight gains with rotational grazing, differences in gross revenues per steer between grazing treatments ranged from US$43.46 to minus $5.72 across the study years. We observed annual differences in the net returns across years between the two grazing systems; net returns were greater for steers in the continuous grazing treatment in three of the five years, one year with net returns that did not differ between systems, and one year in which ...
Background/Question/Methods As the 21st century progresses, food production from rangelands in th... more Background/Question/Methods As the 21st century progresses, food production from rangelands in the United States will face challenges from changing land use priorities, population growth, loss of open agricultural spaces, and climate change. The latter may include increasing temperature, variable rainfall patterns, frequency of extreme weather, severity of invasive species and pest infestations, and changes in livestock forage quantity and quality. These impacts will not only affect food production, but other ecosystem goods and services from agro-ecosystems including rangelands. Changes in U.S. food production systems may ripple around the world because the U.S. is the world’s primary grain producer and markets for many food products are global. In adapting to climate change, farmers may relocate to follow favorable climatic conditions, potentially displacing ecosystems and impacting biodiversity and other services ecosystems provide. Concerns surrounding future food production in ...
... Wyoming. Bastian is the corresponding author. His e-mail address is bastian@ uwyo. edu. Page ... more ... Wyoming. Bastian is the corresponding author. His e-mail address is bastian@ uwyo. edu. Page 27. ... versa). Consider a general trend towards increasing summer aridity and inherent D2M variability leading to a major drought-prone phase. ...
In recent decades, there has been growing interest among farming and scientific communities towar... more In recent decades, there has been growing interest among farming and scientific communities toward integrated crop–range–livestock farming because of evidence of increased crop production, soil health, environmental services and resilience to increased climatic variability. This paper reviews studies on existing cropping systems and integrated crop–range–livestock systems across the USA which are relevant in the context of summarizing opportunities and challenges associated with implementing long-term crop–range–livestock systems research in the highly variable environment of the central High Plains. With precipitation ranging from 305 to 484mm and uncertain irrigation water supply, this region is especially vulnerable to changing moisture and temperature patterns. The results of our review indicate that diverse crop rotations, reduced soil disturbance and integrated crop–livestock systems could increase economic returns and agroecosystem resilience. Integrating agricultural system ...
... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial l... more ... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial liquidation, supplemental summer feeding proved to be a viable option to offset effects of drought to net income. RMID: 0020076042. ...
One way for sheep producers to increase profitability is to lower costs associated with feed cons... more One way for sheep producers to increase profitability is to lower costs associated with feed consumption of their flocks. To reduce feed consumption, producers may use feed efficiency as a selection tool when making replacement decisions for breeding stock. A practical tool for range sheep producers may be the selection of replacement ewes based on their residual feed intake (RFI) value. RFI is the difference between actual feed intake and feed intake predicted for maintenance and production by linear regression. Using enterprise budgets, we examine how increases in a flock’s feed efficiency impact a sheep producer’s profits over time. There has been previous research on sheep RFI and the economics of feed efficiency; however, most of the previous data collected and analyzed have been on males or on sheep fed a concentrate diet. Our study focuses on RFI for females fed a forage-based diet, which may be more realistic for Wyoming producers.
... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial l... more ... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial liquidation, supplemental summer feeding proved to be a viable option to offset effects of drought to net income. RMID: 0020076042. ...
In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in ... more In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in the cattle market on revenues associated with continuous and rotational grazing systems. A price slide is a market phenomenon in which lighter cattle sell at a higher price per unit of liveweight compared with their heavier counterparts. We used actual herd average starting and ending weights in this market analysis, and analysed the outcome using five years’ data from a continuous and rotational comparative grazing study. Despite consistently lower weight gains with rotational grazing, differences in gross revenues per steer between grazing treatments ranged from US$43.46 to minus $5.72 across the study years. We observed annual differences in the net returns across years between the two grazing systems; net returns were greater for steers in the continuous grazing treatment in three of the five years, one year with net returns that did not differ between systems, and one year in which ...
In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in ... more In this study we evaluated the combination of long-term market conditions and the price slide in the cattle market on revenues associated with continuous and rotational grazing systems. A price slide is a market phenomenon in which lighter cattle sell at a higher price per unit of liveweight compared with their heavier counterparts. We used actual herd average starting and ending weights in this market analysis, and analysed the outcome using five years’ data from a continuous and rotational comparative grazing study. Despite consistently lower weight gains with rotational grazing, differences in gross revenues per steer between grazing treatments ranged from US$43.46 to minus $5.72 across the study years. We observed annual differences in the net returns across years between the two grazing systems; net returns were greater for steers in the continuous grazing treatment in three of the five years, one year with net returns that did not differ between systems, and one year in which ...
Background/Question/Methods As the 21st century progresses, food production from rangelands in th... more Background/Question/Methods As the 21st century progresses, food production from rangelands in the United States will face challenges from changing land use priorities, population growth, loss of open agricultural spaces, and climate change. The latter may include increasing temperature, variable rainfall patterns, frequency of extreme weather, severity of invasive species and pest infestations, and changes in livestock forage quantity and quality. These impacts will not only affect food production, but other ecosystem goods and services from agro-ecosystems including rangelands. Changes in U.S. food production systems may ripple around the world because the U.S. is the world’s primary grain producer and markets for many food products are global. In adapting to climate change, farmers may relocate to follow favorable climatic conditions, potentially displacing ecosystems and impacting biodiversity and other services ecosystems provide. Concerns surrounding future food production in ...
... Wyoming. Bastian is the corresponding author. His e-mail address is bastian@ uwyo. edu. Page ... more ... Wyoming. Bastian is the corresponding author. His e-mail address is bastian@ uwyo. edu. Page 27. ... versa). Consider a general trend towards increasing summer aridity and inherent D2M variability leading to a major drought-prone phase. ...
In recent decades, there has been growing interest among farming and scientific communities towar... more In recent decades, there has been growing interest among farming and scientific communities toward integrated crop–range–livestock farming because of evidence of increased crop production, soil health, environmental services and resilience to increased climatic variability. This paper reviews studies on existing cropping systems and integrated crop–range–livestock systems across the USA which are relevant in the context of summarizing opportunities and challenges associated with implementing long-term crop–range–livestock systems research in the highly variable environment of the central High Plains. With precipitation ranging from 305 to 484mm and uncertain irrigation water supply, this region is especially vulnerable to changing moisture and temperature patterns. The results of our review indicate that diverse crop rotations, reduced soil disturbance and integrated crop–livestock systems could increase economic returns and agroecosystem resilience. Integrating agricultural system ...
... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial l... more ... budgets. Optimal strategies showed no need for full liquidation. However, even with partial liquidation, supplemental summer feeding proved to be a viable option to offset effects of drought to net income. RMID: 0020076042. ...
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