Date of Award
8-2024
Degree Type
Report
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Applied Economics
Committee Chair(s)
Ryan Feuz
Committee
Ryan Feuz
Committee
Ryan Larsen
Committee
Dillon Feuz
Abstract
Hydroponically produced fodder continues to garner attention as a feed source within livestock production. This attention in part is due to a belief that hydroponically produced fodder is more efficient in its use of inputs such as water when compared to conventional feeds. Water efficiency is especially appealing in areas like the Intermountain West region of the U.S where water availability is often constrained. This analysis looks to understand how using hydroponically produced barley fodder to finish steers compares economically to finishing steers on a nutritionally equivalent conventional finishing ration. To do so, a stochastic simulation model is constructed to compare the expected cost of gain and net return per head when finishing steers on a conventional ration and hydroponically produced barley fodder ration. The simulation results suggest that finishing steers on a hydroponically produced barley fodder ration leads to a mean cost of gain $0.25 higher than a conventionally fed steer’s cost of gain, and a mean net return per head $88 lower than the conventional mean net return per head. Using a sensitivity analysis to better understand these results, we find that using hydroponically produced barley fodder to finish steers becomes more financially feasible than conventionally finished steers only when conventional feed prices are pushed to unrealistic extremes.
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Lex, "Evaluating the Cost of Gain and Financial Returns of Cattle Fed Hydroponically Produced Barley Fodder" (2024). All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present. 56.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports2023/56
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