The effect of calving season on economic risk and return in cow-calf operations in western Canada

Abstract

Cow-calf producers in western Canada are faced with many decisions throughout the production cycle. The choice of calving time impacts production rate, marketability of calves, income and expenses and net revenue. The purpose of this study was to determine whether June calving could increase net revenues and be a preferred choice across different risk aversion levels over March calving in western Canada. Data for this study were taken from a study carried out by Iwaasa et al. (2009), who collected information from three sites; Brandon, MB, Lanigan, SK and Swift Current SK. Stochastic budgets and a simulation model were used to study the economic impact of calving time. In Brandon and Lanigan, It was found that June calving increased net income and was the dominant alternative across all levels of risk aversion, and in Swift Current, June dominated at high-risk aversion levels.