Economic assessments from experimental research trials of feedlot cattle health and performance: a scoping review

Abstract

Animal husbandry decisions for feedlot cattle may be based on economic or financial impacts reported from livestock research trials comparing interventions such as health practices or performance technologies. Despite the importance of economic assessments to production management decisions, there are no consensus guidelines for their methods or reporting. Thus, we hypothesized that methods and reporting of economic assessments in the scientific literature are inconsistent. This scoping review describes the types of economic assessments used to evaluate the costs and benefits of interventions in feedlot trials, how measured health and performance outcomes are utilized in economic evaluations, and the completeness of reporting. A structured search was used to retrieve peer-reviewed articles (published in English) on experimental trials performed in Australia, North America, or South Africa, which reported feedlot cattle health, performance, or carcass characteristics and included an economic outcome. A total of 7,086 articles were screened for eligibility; 91 articles (comprising 113 trials) met the inclusion criteria. Trial characteristics, methods, and reporting data were extracted. A primary outcome was stated in only 36% (41/113) of the trials. Of these 41 trials, an economic outcome was reported as a primary outcome in 18 (44%). Methodology for the economic assessment was reported for 54 trials (48%), the type of economic assessment was explicitly stated for 21 trials (19%), and both the type of economic assessment and methodology used were reported for 29 trials (26%); neither were reported for nine trials (8%). Eight types of economic assessments were explicitly reported: cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit analysis, enterprise analysis, partial budget, break-even analysis, profitability, decision analysis, and economic advantage. From the trials that did not report an assessment type, three were identified: partial budget, enterprise analysis, and gross margin analysis. Overall, only 32 trials (28%) reported economics as an outcome of interest, the methodology used or the type of assessment, and values, sources, and dates for at least some of the price data used in the analysis. Given the variability in methods and inconsistent reporting for feedlot trials identified by this scoping review, a guideline to facilitate consistency on appropriate methods and reporting is warranted.

Impacts of economic factors influencing net returns of beef feedlot heifers administered two implant programs and fed for differing days-on-feed from pooled randomized controlled trials

“…However, this is the first peer-reviewed publication known by the authors to conduct economic analyses from clinical trial data which incorporate a serial harvest component as part of the experimental design. A recent systematic review indicated inconsistent reporting of methodologies behind calculation of economic outcomes from experimental trials evaluating feedlot cattle performance and health, often leading to the inability to reproduce, or properly interpret the validity of results ( Dixon et al., 2022 ). These factors limit some formal comparisons with the literature.…”

Comparing net returns in the feedlot: Bos Taurus vs. Bos Indicus influenced steers with varying anabolic implant intensity

“…The results contained within Table 1 demonstrate that there are key differences within the treatment groups that would be expected to affect the net returns which motivates an economic analysis of the treatment groups. The economic analysis methods for livestock research trials and the reporting of the methodology have been shown to vary greatly and be inconsistent ( Dixon, 2022 ). Thus, we aim to clearly define the economic analysis methodology used to compare the treatments within this trial.…”

Análise econômica probabilística do confinamento de novilhos com diferentes pesos iniciais

“…As decisões de criação de bovinos confinados podem basear-se nos impactos econômicos ou financeiros relatados a partir de ensaios de investigação pecuária comparando intervenções como práticas de saúde ou tecnologias de desempenho, resultando desta maneira em diversas maneiras de se mensurar a viabilidade econômica da atividade do confinamento de bovinos (DIXON et al, 2022). PACHECO et al (2014a) comentam que esta atividade é de elevado risco, devido aos elevados investimentos e baixas taxas de retorno, tornando-se de extrema importância o uso de técnicas/metodologias que permitam a quantificação do risco associado, visando aprimoramento nas tomadas de decisões.…”