Economic aspects of stayability as selection criterion in beef cattle industry in Brazil.
The importance of incorporating as selection criteria traits such as stayability (STAY) and to economically analyse the benefits are relevant. However, few information or models of economic evaluation of STAY are available in literature. The objective of the study was to present economic concepts of STAY in accordance with the productive and economic scenario of the beef cattle industry in Brazil. The analysis was established from a simulated herd, specializing in cow-calf production system and applying the technique of Bioeconomic Models, to estimate the relation of the STAY with the profit. The economic value of STAY was evaluated by the reduction of the rate of replacement, followed by the increase in the average fertility of the cows. Results showed that the bigger the cost of investment with the heifer, the greater the economic importance of the selection for STAY.