Abstract
Although small and mid-size cattle and sheep producers may be positioned to meet local market demand for grass-based meat and meat products, they share similar challenges as they consider converting to grass-based systems. A survey of Ohio beef and sheep producers reveals a number of underlying factors that influence the decision to convert a livestock management system to a grass-base including available infrastructure, knowledge and technical skills, financial costs and a desire to change their system. These findings demonstrate that there are substantive production and marketing issues that influence producer decisions to change an existing management system. A better understanding of the livestock production system and direct marketing opportunities can improve local food programs’ capacity to increase the supply of grass-based meat and meat products.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 367-390 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 21 2015 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Development
- Agronomy and Crop Science