Evaluating Net Return in Beef Cow-Calf Enterprises

Most research reports are directed toward the improvement of only one or a few of the important traits influencing efficiency of beef production. This is brought about because experiments of a given size can only study a limited number of variables at one time. It has become increasingly apparent that the effects of combining these experimental results must be considered in the application of research results on individual ranches. This has led to the concept of systems research and development of decision-making computer programs. These programs can assist the rancher in making such decisions as choice of management tools, choice of breed and choice of breeding system. The objective here is to outline such a program and to indicate areas of future efforts of this kind