Critical Control Points for Profitability in the Cow-Calf Enterprise

Abstract Financial, economic, and biological data from cow-calf producers participating in the Illinois and Iowa Standardized Performance Analysis programs were analyzed. Data were collected from 1996 to 1999; each herd-year represented one observation. The database consisted of 225 commercial herd observations (117 Iowa; 108 Illinois) and ranged from 20 to 373 cows. Analyses were conducted on financial and economic costs of production. Each observation was analyzed as the difference from the mean for that given year to eliminate environmental and cattle cycle effects. The dependent variable used as an indicator of profit was return to unpaid labor and management per cow ( RLM ). Independent variables were feed, operating, depreciation, capital, hired labor costs, calf weight, calf price, cull weight, cull price, weaning percentage, calving distribution, herd size, and investment. Family labor was used in the economic analysis. All financial factors analyzed were correlated to RLM (P