Boyer, Christopher N.

September, 2023

CowÐCalf Producer Preferences for Bull Genomic Enhanced Expected Progeny Differences

By: Smith, Katy V. ; DeLong, Karen L.; Griffith, Andrew P.; Boyer, Christopher N.; Martinez, Charley; Jensen, Kimberley L.
Genomic enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) combine expected progeny differences (EPDs) with DNA information to improve EPD accuracy values. In 2020, Tennessee cattle producers completed a between-subjects choice experiment for bulls marketed with either EPDs or GE-EPDs. Panel Tobit regression results indicate that, on average across all considered EPDs, producers were not willing to pay significantly more for GE-EPDs than for EPDs. However, producers were willing to pay more for the calving ease direct EPD if it was genomic enhanced. This is the first known study to evaluate producersÕ value of improved accuracy scores associated with GE-EPDs.
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May, 2023

Implicit Market Segmentation and Valuation of Angus Bull Attributes

By: Tang, Minfeng; Thompson, Nathanael M.; Boyer, Christopher N.; Olynk Widmar, Nicole J.; Lusk, Jayson L.; Stewart, Terry S.; Lofgren, Donna L.; Minton, Nick
Previous hedonic assessments have largely relied on the assumption that bull buyers have homogeneous demands for bull attributes. However, quality differentiations and heterogeneous demands support the existence of submarkets. This analysis investigates market segments using a finite mixture model and 13 years of bull auction data. Results indicate that valuations of bull attributes vary across implicit buyer segments. Differences in demand may be influenced by a variety of factors, includingÑbut not limited toÑfarm goals, labor availability, and end-use marketing arrangements for calves. Results have important implications for signaling quality cues throughout the industryÕs breeding sectors.
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January, 2023

Subsidy Rate Changes on Livestock Risk Protection for Feeder Cattle

By: Boyer, Christopher N.; Griffith, Andrew P.
We determine the impact the 2020 Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) subsidy rate structure has on the probability of LRP having a higher price than the actual cash price. Monthly logit models were estimated to determine these probabilities with the previous and new subsidy rate. The preferred coverage lengths and levels vary across months as does LRPÕs effectiveness in managing price risk. The new subsidy structure increases LRPÕs effectiveness as a risk management tool in some months. Results show the LRP contract that provides the best protection by sell month and the impact of the new subsidy rates.
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January, 2022

Adoption of Warm Season Grasses by Beef Cattle Producers in the Fescue Belt

By: Ren, Yongwang ; Lambert, Dayton M. ; Clark, Christopher D. ; Boyer, Christopher N. ; Griffith, Andrew P.
Cattle producers in the Fescue Belt predominantly rely on cool-season grass (CSG) pastures. Supplementing CSGs with warm-season grasses (WSG) can provide economic and environmental benefits. We elicit Tennessee cattle producer willingness-to-adopt WSG using data from a hypothetical choice experiment that offered a monetary incentive to establish WSG pasture. A novel double-hurdle regression with Student-t errors was estimated using a Bayesian Hamiltonian Monte Carlo procedure. About 66% of participants were willing to convert 14%-21% of their pasture acres to WSG depending on the incentive amount. A $95/acre incentive is estimated to convert 7,631 acres to WSG, costing $0.77 million.
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September, 2020

Temporal Changes in Angus Bull Attribute Valuations in the Midwest

By: Tang, Minfeng ; Thompson, Nathanael ; Boyer, Christopher N. ; Olynk Widmar, Nicole J. ; Stewart, Terry S. ; Lofgren, Donna L. ; Minton, Nick
Past attempts to price bull attributes have relied on static marginal valuations due to cross-sectional data limitations. This analysis investigates whether bull buyersÕ marginal valuations of Angus bull attributes have changed over time using 17 years of bull auction data from Indiana. Results indicate statistically significant time effects on some traits (e.g., ribeye area, percentage intermuscular fat, ribeye-area expected progeny difference [EPD], and maternal-milk EPD). Not all of these effects align with prior expectations. Nonetheless, results have important implications for the beef industry in terms of signaling quality ques and incorporating proven information in the form of EPDs.
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January, 2020

Reproductive Failure and Long-Term Profitability of Spring- and Fall-Calving Beef Cows

By: Boyer, Christopher N.; Griffith, Andrew P.; DeLong, Karen L.
We determined how reproductive failure impacts the long-term profitability of beef cows in spring- and fall-calving herds. Simulation models were established to generate distributions of net present value, payback periods, and breakeven prices of calves when a dam fails to wean zero, one, or two calves over her life. Results indicate that giving a dam another calving opportunity after failing to wean a calf would likely result in her being unprofitable. A producer would be better off selling the open dam than giving her another chance to breed. This illustrates the value in selecting replacement heifers based on fertility.
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May, 2016

Comparing the Value of Soil Test Information Using Deterministic and Stochastic Yield Response Plateau Functions

By: Harmon, Xavier; Boyer, Christopher N.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Larson, James A.; Gwathmey, C. Owen
We determined the value of soil test information for potassium (K) in upland cotton production using the linear response plateau (LRP) and linear response stochastic plateau (LRSP) functions. A stochastic dynamic programming model was used to determine the net present value to K fertilizer when optimal K was applied with knowledge about K carryover. Using K carryover information for K application decisions increased net present value and helped maintain steady levels of soil K. The LRSP function fit the data better than the LRP, and the value of soil testing was $27 ha-1 lower over ten years using the LRSP.
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January, 2016

Cotton Producer Awareness and Participation in Cost-Sharing Programs for Precision Nutrient-Management Technology

By: Boyer, Christopher N.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Velandia, Margarita; English, Burton C.; Robert, Roland K.; Larson, James A.; Larkin, Sherry L.; Paudel, Krishna P.; Reeves, Jeanne M.
Factors influencing adoption of variable-rate nutrient management (VRM) and georeferenced precision soil sampling (PSS) for fertilizer management among cotton producers and the factors affecting awareness of and participation in cost-share programs encouraging the adoption of nutrient-management practices were analyzed using multivariate probit regression with sample selection. Data were collected from a fourteen-state cotton producer survey. Factors including farm size, operator age, and farm location were correlated with the adoption of VRM and PSS, awareness of cost-sharing programs, and program participation. The results may help agencies target farms with the specific attributes most likely to participate in cost-share programs.
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