FACTORS INFLUENCING RATES OF ADOPTION OF TRICHOMONIASIS VACCINE BY NEVADA RANGE CATTLE PRODUCERS

Tritrichomonas foetus vaccine has been marketed since 1989 to combat t he Trichomoniasis disease that causes reproductive failure and conside rable economic loss to Nevada ranchers. An ex post technology adoption model is estimated to examine the possible adoption rate, to identify the factors that may influence the adoption behavior, and to test how the probability of adoption for five possible adopter groups would ch ange due to changes in various ranch specific factors. Results indicat e that use of computers, veterinary checkup of herd, and herd size inf luence the probability of adoption. Model results show that cooperativ e extension programs enhance the rate of adoption.