A Very Simple Model for Examining Potential Impacts of Value Chain Parameters on Direction of Selection and Genetic Change

Abstract

The Australian beef (and meat sheep) industries face a significant strategic challenge around optimizing the joint improvement of qualities demanded by the consumer and production attributes affecting on- and off-farm enterprise profitability. A very simple example based on beef cattle value chains is used to show that this joint optimization may not be trivial. Possible responses to this challenge are discussed, with an emphasis on the need for coordination across the sectors involve in the value chain.