A Description of the Nebraska and Kansas Feeder Cattle Growing Industry, 1967-1971

This study is intended to deal with identification of physical and economic characteristics of feeder calf procurement, growing, and selling arrangements currently in use by feeder cattle growers in Kansas and Nebraska. More specifically, this study in intended to describe the extent of vertical coordination between the cow-calf, growing, and finishing stages of production (from the viewpoint of the cattle grower) to include: (a) grower owning own cow herd, (b) grower finishing purchased calves, (c) custom feeding or growing, and (d) contracting for procurement of selling of feeder cattle, and wherever possible to describe the historical and potential future trends in feeder cattle marketing. The results seem to indicate that Kansas growers grow feeder calves for a shorter period of time than do Nebraska growers and that Kansas growers add more weight to the calves, both steers and heifers. Further research into the area of vertical coordination should be done to determine its effects on the present marketing system. Advisor: James G. Kendric