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Information and Herd Health Management Practices in Texas Dairies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2016

Wayne H. Howard
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Business, University of Guelph(formerly a Research Associate at Texas A&M University)
Thomas O. Knight
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University
C. Richard Shumway
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University
Robert W. Blake
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University
Michael A. Tomaszewski
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University
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Abstract

The dissemination of information by extension agents on dairy management practices used to control mastitis and the reception and use of that information by producers are investigated. Producers are surveyed to determine current practices used. The relationship between milk yield, somatic cell count, management practices, and producer and production characteristics is estimated. Subjective probabilities are elicited from “experts,” extension agents, and producers concerning the impact and cost of various management practices. Subjective marginal value products and marginal input costs are computed and compared for the respondent groups. Stochastic dominance is used to rank the relative importance of the practices as perceived by the respondents.

Type
Submitted Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1987

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