Optimal Strategies for Marketing Calves and Yearlings from Rangeland
针对牧场饲料供应不确定的问题，本文用动态规划比较了传统母牛-犊牛模式与更灵活的母牛-犊牛-一岁牛模式，发现后者通过调整畜群规模能提高预期净收益。
Abstract Many of the problems encountered in ranching stem from the uncertainty associated with forage availability and the relatively stable forage requirements of the traditional cow‐calf operation. This results in underutilization of forage during forage surpluses and costly overutilization during shortages. Smaller cow herds combined with the possibility of carrying calves over to the following spring and/or fall allows forage requirements to be manipulated in response to forage availability. Dynamic programming results suggest that smaller cow‐calf‐yearling operations have potential to increase expected net returns over a larger cow‐calf operation.