Effect of Calf Crop on Net Income of a Nevada Range Cattle Operation

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of calf crop percentages on net income. Calf crop is defined as the ratio of the number of calves born to the number of mature cows and first-calf heifers. Net income is gross cattle sales less operating costs. The results show that high calf crops are not necessarily the most feasible in an economic sense. Rather, ranchers should consider the added costs of achieving a higher calf crop percentage and compare them to the associated added sales. The higher level calf crop is economically feasible only if added sales are greater than or equal to added costs.