Introduction
• Conducted a beef producer survey in
Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas
• 106 surveys returned
Demographics
• Average age of producers: 50
• Level of education: 22% some college, 67% at least one
degree
• Gender: 95% Male, 5% Female
General Management
• Job title of respondents: 96% owner/operators
• Number of years raising cattle: 59% more than 20 years,
11% 13-20 years, 19% 7-12 years
• Number involved in cow-calf or stocker operation: 58%
cow calf, 3% stocker, 39% both
• Cowherd shows 76% purebred, 24% crossbred
• Average size of cowherds: 51 to 100 head
• 88% calve in the Spring, 34% calve in the Fall
• 34% use hormone implants
Marketing
• Primary marketing methods: Auction 68%,
Private Treaty 13%, Order Buyer 8%, Video Auction 8%
• Provided information to buyer: Vaccine history 40%, Implant
history 26%, Past feedlot performance 10%, Past carcass performance
10%
• Information producers received back on calf performance:
Feedlot performance 24%, Carcass data 22 %
• Participated in marketing alliance: 11% have participated
in a marketing alliance, and 86% would be interested in participating
in one (all that have participated said they received added value
through participation)
• 42% are satisfied with current marketing strategies
• 65% would be interested in looking into alternative ways
to market cattle, 30% would possibly be interested
• How many cattle do you sell annually as a stocker/grower,
backgrounder or preconditioner? On average between 61 and 200
head.
Marketing cont.
• Ownership retained through the finishing
stage last year: 27%
• How many years in the last five years did they retain
ownership? Retained ownership of cattle the last 4 years.
• For producers who retained ownership, what percentage
of the total inventory of market calves did you retain ownership
of last year? 41-60%
• How many purchased cattle to feed to slaughter weight?
36%
• Fed own cattle to slaughter weight: 35%
Direct Marketing
• 27% had sold cattle through direct marketing
(the beef producer selling processed meat products directly to
a consumer, restaurant, etc.)
• More than half the respondents answered that their primary
direct market is regional (21+ miles)
• Primary method of advertising for direct marketing: referral,
telephone, radio and newspapers, internet and billboards
• How many have thought about selling beef through small
processors? 51%
• Closest meat processor in your area: 53% within 30 miles,
27% between 31-60 miles, 19% at least 60+ miles
Land and Crops
• Crop production currently involved in:
wheat 31%, sorghum 18%, soybeans 15%, corn 8%, oats 6%
• Types of hay production: native 49%, bermuda 45%, alfalfa
21%, brome 13%, cane 7%
• Land leased for livestock production: 31% 1-500 acres,
20% 501-1000, 6% 1001-2000, 6% 2001-5000, 7% 5000+, 30% do not
lease.
• Percent of leased land in crops and grass: crops 11%,
grass 54%
• Owned land used for livestock production: 54% 1-500 acres,
16% 501-1000, 13% 1001-2000, 6% 2001-5000, 4% 5000+, 7% none
• Percent of owned land in crops and grass: crops 14%, grass
72%
