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Purpose of this study was to determine effect of initial weight on beef cattle performance, cost and profitability in beef cattle farms in Afyon province. Data were obtained by conducting a questionnaire with 100 beef cattle farms selected by stratified random sampling method. Beef cattle farms were divided into three groups according to initial weights and were analyzed accordingly. Average daily gain, carcass weight and dressing increased with increasing initial weight. It was found that with increasing initial weight, cost of 1 kg liveweight and carcass decreased, 1 kg liveweight gain increased. Production cost and net profit increased with increasing initial weight. Production cost for light, medium, and heavy groups were 2 054.71, 2 208.64 and 2 354.40 TL, respectively, whereas net profit was -78.59 TL, 36.83 TL and 197.77 TL, respectively. When average profit of light, intermediate and heavy groups were considered, it was found that profit was not enough to sustain a farm household's living. In the study area cost and sale price of 1 kg carcass were close to each other thus discrepancy between these two prices defined as profit margin was small. |
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