Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Feedlot manure processing and disposal -- an economic analysis of a Los Angeles County, California operation

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/m900nx43w

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  • A feedlot cannot retain its manure byproduct indefinitely. Eventually some method of disposal must be used. A case study approach to this problem confronting a cattle feeding operation representative of those in the area was used to determine volume relationship among different product forms in order to maximize net revenue or minimize costs. The study feedlot of 14,000 capacity, occupied 40 acres of which 3.5 acres were used for manure storage and processing. Geographically it was in the western half of the high desert region of Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, California. The area had an abundance of sunshine, generally dry weather conditions; warm in summer and moderate in winter. The processing plant personnel handled 32,782 cubic yards of the stockpiled manure. Of this amount 46 percent was sold in the unprocessed product form, 35 percent sold in the processed bulk form and 19 percent as the processed package form. Some of the original 60,000 cubic yards stockpiled were removed by out-of-area buyers using their own equipment and doing their own processing. Allocating costs by product form and volume revealed that the per cubic yard costs were 11 cents for the unprocessed product, 65 cents for the processed bulk form and $1.89 for the processed packaged form, Additional costs were incurred when loading and delivery were made. Net revenue per cubic yard, based on an average weighted price for each product form, averaged $1.29 for the unprocessed product, $1.75 for the processed bulk, and $1.91 for the processed packaged form. The total net revenue by volume was greatest for the processed bulk product. Through increased efficiencies the volume processed could be increased and the per cubic yard costs reduced. Application of plant operational harmony could increase plant capacity from 14 to 21 cubic yards per hour. This would eliminate 416 hours of operation and reduce processing costs by seven cents per cubic yard. While no firm expressions were ascertained as to the future demand potential of the manure product a general agreement prevailed that the addition of adequate storage facilities, an inventory and better loading facilities should be considered by the management to increase sales of the processed products. Additional observations will be required to validate generalization as to scale of operations. However, those made during the course of this study would suffice for any generalization as to operational costs for a manure handling enterprise equivalent to that in the study.
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