Beef Production and Management Decisions

The most comprehensive beef cattle book available today, Beef Production and Management Decisions is written to allow readers to understand the structural, regional, economic, and management changes and issues confronting the current beef industry. Emphasizing management principles for the industry and each of the segments of production and the processing chain, this book covers the structural changes in the industry, the creation of profitable marketing systems, and the impacts of international trade of beef and beef products. It also deals with the biological and economic principles needed to understand beef cattle productivity, providing an approach to management of information, an understanding of the past, and preparation for the the future of the beef cattle industry. This book is appropriate reading for beef cattle producers (seedstock, cow-calf, stocker, and feedyard), agri-business professionals that sell goods and services to the industry, and government agency personnel whom affect agriculture.

Dr. Taylor was raised on a beef cattle ranch in southern Idaho. He was involved in managing this seedstock, commercial cow-calf and backgrounding operation. He also managed Colorado State University's seedstock herd that is used in teaching, research, and extension activities.

Dr. Taylor received his BS and MS degrees at Utah State University and a PhD from Oklahoma State University. He taught courses in beef production and a graduate-level course in beef cattle management decisions. His research focused on beef cattle management systems. His consulting activities in the U.S. and foreign countries involved all phases of the beef production system.

Dr. Taylor received teaching awards from Iowa State University and Colorado State University, in addition to several regional and national teaching awards. He also received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Society of Animal Science recognizing his ability to organize and present materials to students. Many of his concepts for effective teaching are included in this book.

Dr. Field was raised on a Colorado cow-calf and seedstock enterprise. He was involved in the management of the family business after completing his BS degree. He received his BS, MS and PhD from Colorado State University.

Dr. Field teaches courses in introductory animal science, beef production, management decisions, and family ranching. He serves as the director of the Beef Industry Leadership Program and conducts beef cattle management research. He works with beef cattle producers and organizations in the U.S. and internationally.

Dr. Field has received teaching awards from USDA, NACTA, ASAS, and Colorado State University.