Exploring the economics of behavior:
It’s a matter of money
Understanding and modifying animal behavior can improve the cost-effectiveness
of running feedlot operations, healing riparian areas, improving biodiversity,
protecting wildlife habitat, and reducing losses due to poisonous plants.
At Utah State University, Research Associate Sheldon Atwood and Assistant
Professor Nicole McCoy are examining how changing animal and human behavior
impacts economics. Their findings include:
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Commercial feedlots can reduce costs by offering animals a choice
of foods rather than a total mixed ration. When allowed to choose
foods, both cattle and bison cost less to feed per pound of gain
than animals consuming a single ration intended to fatten them for
slaughter. In experiments with sheep, those offered a choice of three
different foods gained weight faster than those provided the usual
pre-mixed ration.
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The costs of restoring riparian health in arid systems can be reduced
sharply by implementing behavior-conscious management practices.
Bob Budd at The Nature Conservancy’s Red Canyon ranch near
Lander, Wyo., uses knowledge of behavior to train cattle to use uplands
and spend less time near streams and waterways.
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Productivity lost to brush encroachment may be restored and maintained
and biodiversity enhanced at a cost lower than previously believed
possible. Managers at Deseret Ranch near Woodruff, Utah, are working
with researchers to teach livestock to mix their diets and consume
more sagebrush. Increasing the amount of sagebrush livestock eat
will increase plant species diversity, improve habitat for sage grouse,
and increase the profitability of the ranch.
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Altering the behavior of managers may be more economical than changing
the behavior of the creatures they manage when it comes to impacts
from poisonous plants. Atwood and Dr. Jim Pfister of the USDA Poisonous
Plants Laboratory are developing a decision support tool for producers
who have problems with poisonous plants.
Atwood is exploring these topics as part of his ongoing work and doctoral
thesis “Ecological and Economic Implications of Applying Principles
of Behavior to Natural Resource Management” to be completed in
2004. He is also working with Dave Pratt of “Ranching for Profit” to
help producers see the economic benefits of implementing behavioral
practices in their operations and enable them to make direct comparisons
between the operations Atwood analyzes and their own operations.
If you have ideas for additional analyses or would like to discuss
any issues related to economics and behavior, Atwood would like to hear
from you. He can be reached at email: sba@cc.usu.edu; phone (435) 797-2565;
or by mail at Department of Forest, Range and Wildlife Sciences, Utah
State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230.
Other areas where implementation of behavioral principles can improve
profitability and environmental integrity but are not currently part
of Atwood’s doctoral work include:
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Controlling weeds through mixed-species grazing. In North Dakota,
proper grazing by sheep and goats has been shown to restore 90% of
the forage productivity in five years. The use of chemicals at this
scale is expensive and bug releases are problematic, leaving proper
grazing as the most economical and effective alternative.
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Rapid rotation grazing can improve profitability on northern High
Plains ranches, reducing the pressure on ranchers to abandon their
lifestyle and sell to developers.
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Using grazing to enhance or create migratory waterfowl habitat near
urban areas is less expensive than conservation through purchase
of land costing in excess of $40,000/acre.
Presentations
Atwood, S.B., F.D. Provenza, and R.E. Banner. 2003. Potential impacts
of applying behaviour principles in land management. African J. Range & Forage
Sci. 20:223. (Abstract)
Atwood, S.B., F.D. Provenza, L. Dziba, and N. McCoy. 2003. Having it
all - ecology and economics: Impacts of applying behavior versus technology
in land management. Poster presented at the International Rangeland Congress.
Durban, South Africa. July.
Personnel:
Sheldon Atwood
Research/Extension Associate,
Rangeland Resources
Utah State University
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