Simulation Of Beef Cattle Production Systems And Its Use In Economic Analysis

Economic analysis of beef cattle production has been limited by the inability to fully describe the underlying production process. Except for confined feeding of cattle, beef cattle production is the process of growing cattle who consume forages. The animal and the forage possess attributes of both factors and products of production. The production of forage constitutes one production process, animal growth is another production process, and reproduction by female animals is a third production process. Cattle production involves all three processes in such a manner that each influences the outcome of the other. Each process is itself complex and analysis is further complicated when all three are considered simultaneously.

PREFACE -- I. Historical Perspective of Biological Simulation with Special Reference to Beef-Forage Systems -- /T.D.A. Forbes and James w. Oltjen -- II. Biological Simulation and Its Role in Economic Analysis -- /James N. Trapp and Odell L. Walker -- III. Introduction to Simulation of Beef Cattle Production -- /s.c. Denham and T.H. Spreen -- IV. The Kentucky Beef-Forage Model -- /Otto J. Loewer and Edward M. Smith -- v. A Discussion of the Dynamic Simulation Model •PASTURE• -- /L.M. Tharel, M.A. Brown, E.M. Smith, and C.T. Dougherty -- VI. Use of the Kentucky Beef-Forage Model in Economic Analysis -- /Lucas D. Parsch, Otto J. Loewer, and David H. Laughlin -- VII. The Texas A&M Beef Cattle Simulation Model -- /T.C. Cartwright and P.E. Doren -- VIII. Economic Analysis of Cattle Systems Using the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Simulation Model -- /Gregory Sullivan and Enrique Cappella -- IX. The Colorado State University Beef Production Model -- /R.M. Bourdon and J.s. Brinks -- x. A Dynamic Model of Beef Cattle Growth• and Composition -- /James w. Oltjen -- XI. Delivering, Updating, and Maintaining Large- Scale Simulation Models: The Role of Professional Agricultural Economists -- /David H. Laughlin and w. Charles Walden -- XII. Administration of Multidisciplinary Research -- /N.P. Thompson and J.M. Davidson -- INDEX.