Adoption of management practices and breed types by US grass-fed beef producers

ABSTRACT Using data from a 2013 survey, adoption rates of 14 farm operations and management practices, as well as frequencies of breed types adopted by US grass-fed beef producers, are provided. The management practices are classified into 3 broad groups or categories: general management (access to shade during summer, castration, animal identification system, vaccination, deworming, and insect control), reproductive (defined breeding season, breeding records, pregnancy checking, bull test, and AI), and technological or informational (searching the internet for grass-fed beef information, keeping individual animal records, and testing the quality of forage). Multivariate probit and joint Poisson models were used to analyze determinants of adoption of the management practices. A summary of breeds used by producers is provided. Results indicate that larger-scale producers who were involved in the cow-calf segment and sold grass-fed beef as meat were the more likely adopters of most of the management practices. The Angus breed and Angus crosses were the most heavily used animals. The results provide insight for research and extension personnel in determining the predominant structure of grass-fed beef farms and the practices used and, hence, in developing research and educational programs to further assist the grass-fed beef segment.