ABSTRACT
Hie essence of an evaluation of bovine somatotropin (BST) for onfarm use is to examine the net revenue associated with its use. Some scientists feel that the response rate to BST may be a mixture of proportional and nonproportional rates. The level of risk associated with using BST is very sensitive to both the value of the mean response rate and the breakeven response rate. In general, the larger the difference between the mean response rate and the breakeven point, the smaller the risk associated with using BST. Producers should be careful to evaluate other costs associated with administering BST. The controversy surrounding BST has stimulated debate in many states, and some states have actually enacted legislation intended to limit its use when it becomes commercially available. The essence of an evaluation of BST for onfarm use is to examine the consequences on net revenue.
