Unit cost of production is a ratio where costs in the numerator are divided by the units produced in the denominator.

Unit cost of production equals costs/units produced.

There are five ways to reduce unit cost of production in a cow-calf enterprise:

1. Decrease costs while keeping production the same. An example of this would be to sell unneeded equipment or reduce equipment expense while keeping calf production the same. Costs decrease while production is maintained, decreasing unit cost of production.

2. Hold costs the same while increasing production. The use of hybrid vigor in cow-calf production is an example of this strategy. Research shows that a crossbred cow will be more productive over her life than the females of the straight-bred contemporaries used to create her. An example of this would be an F1 Hereford X Angus cross cow. Cost of production likely would be the same, but productivity is expected to increase, decreasing unit cost of production.

3. Decrease costs while increasing production. An example of this could be the moving of a calving date for a cow herd to better match the availability of significantly lower cost feed resources. This move of calving date also could potentially improve calf survivability if weather is more favorable, resulting in an increase in the number of calves weaned. Costs decrease while production increases, reducing unit cost of production.

4. Increase costs with an expected greater percentage increase in production. The strategic use of a protein supplement for spring-calving cows grazing low-quality forage is an example of this. The protein supplement can increase the ability of cows to use low-quality forage, resulting in improved body condition scores at calving, greater survivability of calves, greater calf weaning weights and increased pregnancy rates for cows. The percent increase in productivity exceeds the cost of the protein supplement, reducing unit cost of production.

5. Significantly decrease costs with a smaller percentage decrease in expected production. An example of this would be the decision to select for a genetically adapted cow that better fits her environment and requires fewer supplemental feed inputs. Pounds of calf produced likely would decrease with the cow requiring fewer inputs, but the cost to produce those pounds of calf is expected to decrease at a proportionally faster rate, resulting in a decrease in unit cost of production.

Questions to ask

For producers weighing opportunities to reduce unit cost of production, evaluate the potential ripple effects of the proposed change to the whole cow-calf production system. Some questions to ask in evaluating the possible effect of those changes include:

Think creatively about how you may address unit cost of production in your cow-calf operation. Sometimes, a little out-of-the-box thinking can open the doors to changes that can significantly affect unit cost of production.

Berger is a Nebraska Extension beef educator.

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