Jeffrey Gillespie
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Richard Nehring, Charlie Hallahan, and Carmen Sandretto
US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Loren Tauer
Cornell University

This article analyzes the adoption and profitability of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) in the United States. Probit model results show that location of the farm, farm size, operator age and education, and other technologies adopted influence rBST adoption. Regression model results find that adoption of rBST influences milk yield per cow but not profitability, unless profitability is analyzed by farm-size segment.

Key words: rBST, technology adoption, probit, dairy.