Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Beef Cattle Retained Ownership Analysis: Web-Based, Decision Support Tools

Cattle producers frequently must make the decision to either sell their calves at weaning, or soon thereafter, or retain ownership of them through a pasture, background, or feedlot program.  While the price they might receive at weaning may be known, there is great uncertainty about what cattle prices might be at the end of the retained ownership program.  The sale date may be 60 to over 200 days away and much can change in that time.  Uncertain prices lead to uncertain returns and discourage many producers from considering retained ownership.

Hawaii cattle producers face additional uncertainty in retaining ownership on the mainland as ocean/air freight rates and availability vary.  There may also be uncertainty in finding partners on the mainland whose pasture, background, or feedlot operations are a good fit for Hawaii cattle that may arrive at a lighter weight than most other cattle they see.  The Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative Association is an example of a group that was formed to help manage and minimize some of these risks.

Below are the decision support tools discussed in the Beef Cattle Retained Ownership Analysis UH CTAHR extension publication AS-8.

Stocker I West Coast

Stocker I West Coast is a tool designed to look at an initial retained ownership program on the West coast.  It assumes that calves are in Hawaii, will then be shipped to the West coast and will be retained there in a background feedlot or grazing/stocker program.  Web link to tool: Stocker I West Coast

Stocker I Southwest

Stocker I Southwest is a tool designed to look at an initial retained ownership program in the Southwest.  It assumes that calves are in Hawaii, will then be shipped to the Southwest and will be retained there in a background feedlot or grazing/stocker program.  Web link to tool: Stocker I Southwest

Stocker II West Coast

Stocker II West Coast is a tool designed to look at a 2nd phase retained ownership program on the West coast.  It assumes that calves are completing one phase of retained ownership on the West coast and will be retained there in a 2nd background feedlot or grazing/stocker program.  Web link to tool: Stocker II West Coast

Stocker II Southwest

Stocker II Southwest is a tool designed to look at a 2nd phase retained ownership program in the Southwest. It assumes that calves are completing one phase of retained ownership in the Southwest and will be retained there in a 2nd background feedlot or grazing/stocker program. Weblink to tool: Stocker II Southwest

Finisher West Coast

Finisher West Coast is a tool designed to look at a feedlot finishing retained ownership program on the West Coast. It assumes that calves are completing a phase of retained ownership on the West coast and will be retained there in a finishing feedlot program. Web link to tool: Finisher West Coast

Finisher Southwest

Finisher Southwest is a tool designed to look at a feedlot finishing retained ownership program in the Southwest.  It assumes that calves are completing a phase of retained ownership in the Southwest and will be retained there in a finishing feedlot program.  Web link to tool: Finisher Southwest