A Study of Drought Effects on Livestock Feeds and Products in the Western United States

Through the use of a regionalized Linear Programming model, a profit maximized optimal solution was obtained for livestock feed and product production for a selected base year (1979). Production data, seasonality, transfer activities, and herd liquidation are developed for ten feeds and seven livestock products and incorporated within the model. Two drought induced simulations were imposed affecting feed production and feed prices, procuring new optimal results. Drought is simulated by the use of crop-weather indexes and range response equations. Results are discussed and presented in tables for the base year and drought simulations. Results include profits, costs, feed and livestock production, transfer activities, and herd liquidation. Seasonality of feeds, allocation of feeds, and shadow prices are also analyzed. Policy implications and recommendations are presented