Simulation techniques were utilized to study alternative management practices for cow-calf operations in the Coastal Prairie of Texas. Data obtained over a 6-year period from a cooperating ranch were used to validate a beef production model successfully. Management practices evaluated with the model included fall, winter, spring, and split (fall-spring) calving seasons, July 1 and October 1 weaning dates, and two levels of nutrition. Eight combinations of these practices were simulated. Winter calving increased death losses of calves compared to fall and spring at the base nutritional level. Fall calving increased weaning weights, whereas spring calving increased the present calf crop. Fall calving with improved nutrition resulted in the highest level of calf production. Resource limitations frequently prevent screening many management combinations by field research techniques. Simulation can be a valuable aid for integrating and extending experimental data and for selecting the most promising combinations of practices for field testing. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.