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Dissertations, Theses and Plan B Papers -- Abstract

Wachenheim, Cheryl Joy. The Economic Viability of Intensive Stocker Cattle Grazing Systems. Master's Thesis, 1991. Major Professor: Black. 

The average annual net return (AAR) to land and other unallocated costs for land capable of producing 100 to 120 bu/acre corn was calculated for three grazing systems differing in grazing pressure and design and for a corn system with three yield levels at two prices. Production data from a Michigan State University stocker cattle grazing trial was used. Break-even thresholds between systems were calculated. Risk was included through the use of cumulative distributions and an expected benefit model. A corn system at 100 and 120 bu/acre resulted in a higher AAR than that of two stocking systems supporting two head/acre which was greater than the AAR of a corn system yielding 80 bu/acre. The two stocking systems had a higher AAR than the corn system at any yield level using a break-even price. Cumulative distributions explicitly showed the large negative returns possible with an inappropriately high stocking rate.