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Author

Ming Guan

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1994

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Economics

First Advisor

Donald C. Taylor

Abstract

The cattle industry plays an important role in South Dakota's economy. Some farm innovators have been trying to apply natural management practices such as "organic production practices" or "sustainable production practices" in their beef-cattle production to improve cattle health and welfare, to lower production costs, and to reduce environmental problems. This research involves determination of the degree of sustainability of beef-cattle production and the analysis of cattle performance and social economic aspects associated with organic practices and sustainable practices of cattle production. V In this study, a Producer Sustainability Index (PSI) and a Producer Organic Index (POI) were developed for each of 70 cow-calf producers and 102 cattle feeders in South Dakota state. Several cattle performance variables were found to be significantly related to organic and sustainable cow-calf production. The relationships between socioeconomic variables and PSIs and POIs were analyzed.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Beef cattle -- South Dakota
Beef cattle -- Economic aspects -- South Dakota
Beef cattle -- Environmental aspects -- South Dakota

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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