Factors affecting the adoption of grazing systems and grass-based management by beef and sheep producers in Ohio

Abstract Text: Relying solely on forage for livestock production (grass-based) is a system for raising animals to a marketable weight in many parts of the world, yet adoption of the practice is not common in the United States. A random sample, mail survey sent to Ohio beef and sheep farmers was used to determine what influences the decision to adopt grass-based management and the adoption of the associated use of a grazing system. A response rate of 45% resulted in 344 usable surveys. Logistic regression procedures were used to analyze the underlying factors that influence a decision to use grass-based management or use a grazing system. Producer demographic information including, age, number of beef cows managed, number of feeder calves sold, number of finished beef sold, number of ewes managed, number of market lambs sold at less than 41 kg or from 41 kg to 54 kg, number of hectares owned, and income were used to create dummy binary variables for both logistic regression analysis. Factor scores created from principal component analysis of four separate questions used in the survey to determine underlying conceptual factors postulated to influence the decision of adoption were also included in the logistic regressions. Only 18% of the respondents identified their operation as grass-based while 73% of respondents identified their operation as using a grazing system. Factors found to influence the adoption of both grass-based management, and use of a grazing system, (P < 0.05) were the respondent’s perception of the importance of pasture, their social interactions, and management of beef cows. Factors that were not a significant (P> 0.05) influence in the adoption of both grass-based management, and use of a grazing system, were age, number of feeder calves sold, number of finished beef sold, number of ewes managed, number of market lambs sold, number of hectares owned, and income. Results from the analysis indicate that adoption of grass-based or grazing systems by ruminant livestock producers in Ohio are producer specific and not just an economic decision.

Keywords: Grass-based, Beef, Sheep