Economic comparison of feeding and weaning strategies in southeastern Wyoming beef production

The current market environment for corn prices place many firms involved with cattle feeding in financial distress. Ranchers are looking for ways that can ease the burden of higher feed costs and the uncertainty in the grain market. Animal science studies point to the possibility of implementing low cost feeding strategies by only feeding high cost feedstuffs at critical life stage. Earlier weaning dates are also identified as a strategy that could potentially provide superior carcass quality while reducing overall feed intake. Profitability comparisons are made between selling at weaning (at various weaning dates) and feeding until slaughter given the alternative feeding and weaning strategies. The profitability of the these management strategies are analyzed using data from experiments conducted as a part of research conducted at the University of Wyoming James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Center (SAREC) in Lingle, Wyoming. These data are analyzed using a Monte Carlo simulation simulating both input and output prices for distributions based on historical data to assess overall profitability of the alternative management strategies.