Largest Cost Item Research Articles

The Economic Burden of Severe Acute Malnutrition with Complications: A Cost Analysis for Inpatient Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in Northern Senegal.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a high-fatality condition that affected 13.7 million children under five years of age worldwide in 2022, with complicated cases requiring extensive inpatient stay with an accompanying caregiver. Our objective was to assess the costs of inpatient treatment for complicated SAM in children aged 6 to 59 months in Northern Senegal and identify cost predictors. We performed a retrospective cost analysis, including 140 children hospitalized from January to December 2020 in five SAM inpatient treatment facilities. We adopted a societal perspective, including direct medical and non-medical costs and indirect costs. We extracted patients' sociodemographic and clinical data from medical records and conducted semi-structured interviews with healthcare staff to capture information on time allocation and care management. A multivariable generalized linear model with gamma family and a log link was used to investigate the factors associated with direct costs. Costs are expressed in 2020 international USD using purchasing power parity. Mean length of stay was 5.3 (SD = 3.2) days and diarrhoea was the cause of the admission in 55.7% of cases. Mean total cost was USD 431.9 (SD = 203.9), with personnel being the largest cost item (33% of the total). Households' out-of-pocket expenses represented 45.3% of total costs and amounted to USD 195.6 (SD = 103.6). Costs were significantly associated with gender (20.3% lower in boys), diarrhoea (27% increase), anaemia (49.4% increase), inpatient death (44.9% decrease), and type of facility (26% higher in hospitals vs. health centre). Our study highlights the financial burden of complicated SAM in Senegal in particular for families. This underscores the need for tailored prevention and social policies to protect families from the disease's financial burden and improve treatment adherence, both in Senegal and similar contexts.

SITUATION ANALYSIS OF YACHT FURNITURE SECTOR BUSINESSES

Yacht Industry is one of the important and developing sectors and yacht furniture manufactory is a branch of this sector those are growing day by day. Important that yacht and yacht furniture are both as status symbols and integrate each other. Seeing yachts and furniture as status symbols is important for these two complementary sectors. This importance is even more significant as yacht furniture manufacturing is the second largest cost item in yacht building after engine equipment.Yacht furniture manufactoring has important position in the yacht industry, in the future this importance will be understood better. It is significant to make researches on yacht furniture manufactoring’s technology use, quality, institutionalization, efficiency, employment, added value, branding and design will help to develop and improve our economy. When The Turkish Yacht Furniture Sector is compared to its competitors it has a cheap but qualified workforce and a central location close to all markets. Using results obtained from this study; although companies mostly solve their design and production drawings with architects and engineers in their own design offices, the most important problem is production managment and planning. Also the most crucial problem about production side is that qualified workers do not have sufficient skills. For those problems, the sector should be introduced correctly and yacht educational schools should be increased. In our country, yacht furniture sector which is sub-sector under the yacht building industy that is dynamicly developing in last decate despite the contraction in developed countries.

Cost analysis of informal care: estimates from a national cross-sectional survey in Sweden

BackgroundOver the past decades, informal care has increased in most OECD-countries. Informal care is costly to caregivers and to society in the form of lost income and direct costs of providing care. Existing evidence suggests that providing informal care affects caregivers’ overall health. However, estimates of the social costs of informal care based on national data on individuals are currently scarce.ObjectiveThis study contributes to the existing evidence on the costs of informal care by estimating the direct and indirect costs to caregivers using a purposive national household survey from Sweden.MethodsAdopting a bottom-up, prevalence approach, the direct and indirect costs are estimated using the survey data and the value of working time and leisure time from existing sources.ResultsThe results suggest that around 15% of the adult population of Sweden provide informal care and that such care costs around SEK 152 billion per year (around 3% of GDP; USD 16,3 billion; EUR 14,5 billion), or SEK 128000 per caregiver. Around 55% of costs are in the form of income loss to caregivers. The largest cost items are reduced work hours and direct costs of providing informal care. Replacing informal caregivers with professional care providers would be costly at around SEK 193,6 billion per year.ConclusionsFindings indicate that, even in a country with a relatively generous welfare system, significant resources are allocated toward providing informal care. The costing analysis suggests that effective support initiatives to ease the burden of informal caregivers may be cost-effective.

The cost and intermediary cost-effectiveness of oral HIV self-test kit distribution across 11 distribution models in South Africa

BackgroundCountries around the world seek innovative ways of closing their remaining gaps towards the target of 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their status by 2030. Offering kits...

Evaluation of Techno-Economic Studies on the bioliq® Process for Synthetic Fuels Production from Biomass

Techno-economic studies by various research institutions on the costs for the production of biomass to liquid (BtL) fuels using the bioliq® process were analyzed and evaluated. The bioliq® process consists of decentralized pretreatment by fast pyrolysis plants for biomass energy densification, and of a central gasification and synthesis step for synthesis of gas and synthetic fuel production. For comparison, specific material and energy flows were worked out for both process steps, and conversion efficiencies were calculated for the conversion of straw to diesel fuel via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. A significant variation of the overall process efficiency in the range of 33–46% was mainly a result of the different assumptions made for electricity generation at the central location. After breaking down the individual cost items to either fixed or variable costs, it turned out that the largest cost items in the production of BtL fuels were attributable to feedstock and capital costs. Comparison of the specific investments showed that, in addition to economies of scale, other factors had a significant influence leading to values between 1000 and 5000 EUR/kW. This, particularly, included the origin of the equipment purchase costs and the factors applied to them. Fuel production costs were found to range between 0.8 and 2.6 EUR/L. Possible cost reduction by learning potential was investigated, leading to an improvement by a few percent of production costs. A sensitivity analysis of the individual cost items by up to 30%, for “investments” and “biomass and transport” cost increases, led to higher manufacturing costs of up to 17% in both cases. By harmonizing the depreciation period and the chosen interest rate, the production costs changed from −16% to +17%. Similarly, effects could be shown by adjusting the costs for maintenance and servicing, and the plant operation time. A superposition of these effects in a best-case scenario led to cost reductions of 21%. The most expensive variant in the opposing worst-case scenario raised costs by up to 27%. This uncertainty contributed already fifty percent to a preliminary cost estimate based on a conceptual design.

Economics of fish production at Chitwan district, Nepal

A study was conducted in 2016 to analyze the economics of fish production at Chitwan District of Nepal. Three study sites: East, West and South part of Chitwan were selected purposively. A total of 90 households, 30 from each study site were selected randomly and were interviewed by using pre-tested semi structured questionnaire. Secondary data needed for the study were obtained from DADO, MOAD, NARC and other related organizations working on fisheries and aquaculture sector. Descriptive statistics and extended Cobb Douglas production function was used to accomplish the study objectives for which MS-Excel and SPSS 16 were used. The B/C ratio is obtained dividing the gross return by total variable cost incurred. The total cost of production per ha of the pond area was Rs. 743798 per year with 79 and 21 percent variable and fixed cost components, respectively. Feed cost (28 %) was largest cost item followed by cost for labour (25 %), fingerlings (10 %), maintenance (6 %), manure cum fertilizers (5 %), fuel cum energy (3 %) and limestone and others (2%). The average gross return and net profit realized per ha were Rs. 1223934 and Rs. 480135 respectively. The cost, return and profit were calculated to be highest for east Chitwan with highest B/C ratio followed by west Chitwan and south Chitwan. The B/C ratio for the district was found to be 1.63. The return to scale was found to be decreasing with value of 0.654 indicating that 1 percent increment in all the inputs included in the function will increase income by 0.654 percent. Production function analysis, including five variables, showed significant effect of human labour, fingerlings and fuel cum energy cost but feed and manure cum fertilizers cost were insignificant.

Techno-economic assessment of a renewable bio-jet-fuel production using power-to-gas

A techno-economic assessment of a novel biorefinery concept is carried out. It combines the hydrotreatment of vegetable oils (HEFA) with a power-to-gas (PTG) unit that provides the required hydrogen. Several scenarios are examined: the electricity supply for the PTG unit is varied from a grid-based supply to a renewable island solution; the hydrogen supply is varied from a PTG unit to conventional steam reforming; the utilised vegetable oil is varied from jatropha to rapeseed, palm and used cooking oil; the main product is varied from jet fuel to diesel.The HEFA-plant is assumed to process 500 kt of vegetable oil annually. In the reference scenario, jatropha oil is used as feedstock producing 227 kt a−1 of jet fuel. Per ton of processed oil, 1910 kWhel are used to produce 35.7 kg of hydrogen required for its treatment. By using different vegetable oils, both hydrogen demand and fuel output vary in a range of about ±10%. The overall energetic efficiency towards jet fuel is 41.6%.With a bandwidth between 1295 and 1800 EUR t−1 of jet fuel, the specific production costs are three to four times higher than the market price for fossil jet fuel. Operating the refinery in diesel-mode could lower the production costs by ca. 30%. More high-value, long-chained fuels are produced this way due to a lower cracking rate compared to the jet-mode.Investments of around 132million EUR are required for the HEFA-plant in all scenarios. Investments for the PTG-plant lie around 82million EUR if there is a constant electricity supply from the grid. They reach 246million EUR if electricity is supplied in an island-solution based on fluctuating renewables demanding much higher hydrogen production and storage capacities. Total investments in the biorefinery reach 378millionEUR in this case. Despite high capital costs, the largest cost item is vegetable oil – similarly to a conventional HEFA plant. Supporting policy instruments such as subsidies or quotas for renewable jet fuel seem indispensable for an introduction of the PTG-HEFA technology in the short to medium term.

Assessment of Profitability and Break-Even Points in Suckler Cow Herds

Suckler cow enterprises comprise an important segment of Czech agriculture, and the number of suckler cows has been steadily increasing in recent years. The objective of this study was to assess the profitability of suckler cow herds in the Czech Republic based upon data collected for 2014, 2015, and 2016 using a questionnaire covering production, reproduction, and economic traits. The average yearly costs reached 30,583 CZK per cow. When subsidies in the average amount of 14,347 CZK per cow were included, profitability of 8.3, 8.7, and 6.3 % was observed in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. Feed, labour, depreciation, and overheads were the largest cost items and together comprised 66 % of total yearly costs. The data obtained proved the economy of scale. Average break-even points were determined for the number of weaned calves, calving interval, and selling price of calves (75 calves, 465 days, and 56 CZK/kg live weight, respectively). A sensitivity analysis identified the number of weaned calves, price of calves, calving interval, and amount of subsidies as the most influential parameters.

Descriptive Analysis of Health Economics of Intensive Home Care of Ventilated Patients

Long-term ventilated patients in Germany receive intensive care mainly in the patients' home or in assisted-living facilities. There is a lack of knowledge about the nature and extent of resource use and costs associated with care of this small, heterogeneous but overall growing patient group. A sub-study in the context of a research project SHAPE analyzed costs of 29 patients descriptively from a social perspective. Direct and indirect costs of intensive home care over a period of three months were recorded and analyzed retrospectively. Standardized recorded written self-reports from patients and relatives as well as information from the interviewing of nursing staff and from nursing documentation were the basis for this analysis. There was an average total cost of intensive home care for three months per patient of 61194 € (95% CI 53 884-68 504) including hospital stays. The main costs were directly linked to outpatient medical and nursing care provided according to the Code of Social Law V and XI. Services provided by nursing home care service according to § 37(2) Code of Social Law V (65%) were the largest cost item. Approximately 13% of the total costs were attributable to indirect costs. Intensive home care for ventilated patients is resource-intensive and cost-intensive and has received little attention also from a health economics perspective. Valid information and transparency about the cost structures are required for an effective and economic design and management of the long-term care of this patient group.

A cost-benefit analysis of peer coaching for overhead lift use in the long-term care sector in Canada

ObjectivesTo evaluate whether a peer-coaching programme for patient lift use in British Columbia, Canada, was effective and cost-beneficial.MethodsWe used monthly panel data from 15 long-term care facilities from 2004 to...

Costes sanitarios y no sanitarios de personas que padecen insuficiencia cardiaca crónica sintomática en España

Introduction and objectivesChronic heart failure is associated with high mortality and utilization of health care and social resources. The objective of this study was to quantify the use of health care and nonhealth care resources and identify variables that help to explain variability in their costs in Spain. MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, observational study with a 12-month follow-up period included 374 patients with symptomatic heart failure recruited from specialized cardiology clinics. Information was collected on the socioeconomic characteristics of patients and caregivers, health status, health care resources, and professional and nonprofessional caregiving. The monetary cost of the resources used in caring for the health of these patients was evaluated, differentiating among functional classes. ResultsThe estimated total cost for the 1-year follow-up ranged from € 12 995 to € 18 220, depending on the scenario chosen (base year, 2010). The largest cost item was informal caregiving (59.1%-69.8% of the total cost), followed by health care costs (26.7%- 37.4%), and professional care (3.5%). Of the total health care costs, the largest item corresponded to hospital costs, followed by medication. Total costs differed significantly between patients in functional class II and those in classes III or IV. ConclusionsHeart failure is a disease that requires the mobilization of a considerable amount of resources. The largest item corresponds to informal care. Both health care and nonhealth care costs are higher in the population with more advanced disease.Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org/en

Health Care and Nonhealth Care Costs in the Treatment of Patients With Symptomatic Chronic Heart Failure in Spain

Introduction and objectivesChronic heart failure is associated with high mortality and utilization of health care and social resources. The objective of this study was to quantify the use of health care and nonhealth care resources and identify variables that help to explain variability in their costs in Spain. MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, observational study with a 12-month follow-up period included 374 patients with symptomatic heart failure recruited from specialized cardiology clinics. Information was collected on the socioeconomic characteristics of patients and caregivers, health status, health care resources, and professional and nonprofessional caregiving. The monetary cost of the resources used in caring for the health of these patients was evaluated, differentiating among functional classes. ResultsThe estimated total cost for the 1-year follow-up ranged from € 12 995 to € 18 220, depending on the scenario chosen (base year, 2010). The largest cost item was informal caregiving (59.1%-69.8% of the total cost), followed by health care costs (26.7%- 37.4%), and professional care (3.5%). Of the total health care costs, the largest item corresponded to hospital costs, followed by medication. Total costs differed significantly between patients in functional class II and those in classes III or IV. ConclusionsHeart failure is a disease that requires the mobilization of a considerable amount of resources. The largest item corresponds to informal care. Both health care and nonhealth care costs are higher in the population with more advanced disease.

The societal cost of depression: Evidence from 10,000 Swedish patients in psychiatric care

ObjectiveDepression cost studies have mainly taken a primary care perspective and should be completed with cost estimates from psychiatric care. The objectives of this study were to estimate the societal per-patient cost of depression in specialized psychiatric care in Sweden, and to relate costs to disease severity, depressive episodes, hospitalization, and patient functioning. MethodsRetrospective resource use data in inpatient and outpatient care for 2006–2008, as well as ICD-10 diagnoses and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), were obtained from the Northern Stockholm psychiatric clinic (covering half of Stockholm's population aged 18 years and above). As a complement, data from national registers on pharmaceuticals and sick leave were used in order to estimate the societal cost of depression. ResultsBased on 10,430 patients (63% women), the mean annual per-patient cost was €17, 279 in 2008. The largest cost item was indirect costs due to productivity losses (88%), followed by outpatient care (6%). Patients with mild and severe depression had average costs of €14,200 and €21,500, respectively. Total costs were substantially higher during depressive episodes, among patients with co-morbid psychosis or anxiety, for hospitalized patients, and for patients with poor functioning. LimitationsPrimary care costs and costs for reduced productivity at work were not included. ConclusionsThe main cost item among depression patients in psychiatric care was indirect costs. Costs were higher than previously reported for primary care, and strongly related to hospitalization, depressive episodes, and low functioning. This suggests that effective treatment that avoids depressive episodes and hospitalization may reduce society's costs for depression.

Economic comparison of diagnostic antibody production in perfusion stirred tank and in hollow fiber bioreactor processes

The total operating costs of small-scale monoclonal antibody production were calculated for two different upstream options and general downstream procedure based on protein A chromatography. The upstream options were a spin-filter equipped stirred-tank bioreactor (STR) and a hollow fiber bioreactor (HFB). Both the bioreactors were operated in perfusion mode. The total operating costs of the processes were 6,900 €/g for STR option and 6,400 €/g for the HFB option. In the both systems, the costs were dominated by expenses derived from the downstream section (almost 80%) that was almost identical in the both systems. In the upstream section, the investment depreciation was the largest cost item. The lower total costs of the HFB option were a result of lower investment costs and more concentrated product that led into savings also in downstream section. This study brings out the HFB as on viable alternative for stirred-tank bioreactor, especially in small-scale diagnostic monoclonal antibody production.

P03-148 Costs for schizopsychotic patients in Sweden

As part of the Clinical Long-term Investigation of Psychosis in Sweden (CLIPS), 200 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or delusional disorder, are studied. the aim is to provide up-to-date costs for a defined patient population with schizopsychotic disorders in Sweden.We identify the actual clinical management of illness and explain cost variability. Costs are combined with information on outcomes and severity of the disorder.Total costs per patient-year amount to 62.320 Euro. Direct costs correspond to 41% and indirect costs to 59% of total costs. Inpatient and outpatient care corresponds to 7% each of total costs, while costs for special housing and assistance at home is estimated to 22% of total costs. Medication only corresponds to 3% of total costs.We conclude that costs differ between patients depending on illness severity. Also a reallocation has taken place during the last 15 years between different cost items, from direct costs to indirect costs and from in-patient care at hospitals to out-patient care and assistance at home. the main cost driver is indirect costs due to decreased working ability and premature death. Special housing and home-assistance is the second largest cost item. In-patient care corresponds to 7% of total costs, which 15 years ago amounted to 50% of total costs. This reflects the change in care of schizopsychotic patients. Instead of treating patients at institutions, patients are now to a large extent living in their own housing but often receiving some kind of assistance at home provided by the local municipality.

Operating cost analyses of long‐term care facilities

PurposeAfter salary and wages, facility and real estate expenditure are the largest cost items in the semi‐public sector. Especially, for long‐term care facilities, there is high‐saving potential from more efficient and effective use of property. The main purpose of this paper is an exploratory research study in order to analyse the operating costs of long‐term care facilities.Design/methodology/approachThe survey is based on empirical data questionnaires, data generation and semi‐structured interviews at 18 long‐term care facilities in Tyrol, Austria carried out during Summer 2007. In order to determine the volume and to prioritize the cost drivers computer‐aided real‐estate benchmarking software was used, which was developed by the Institute of Real Estate Benchmarking at the University of Applied Sciences KufsteinTirol, Austria. Statistic analyses were conducted to investigate saving potential, determine the best case of the sample and submit recommendations to the decision makers.FindingsThe main findings are the investigation and visualization of saving potential of long‐term care facilities and identification of the volume and structure of the cost drivers and illuminated current best practices in effective building upkeep and operating costs of long‐term care facilities in Tyrol. Furthermore, the study reveals the immense saving potential in the costs of various services.Research limitations/implicationsThis survey is based on the operating costs of long‐term care facilities. Other running costs such as costs for healthcare personnel as well as quality indicators are not considered in this survey. Further research activities will be necessary regarding the identification of these cost drivers by the application of regression models.Practical implicationsProfessional property management of long‐term care facilities will be shown to decrease the cost share in the healthcare sector. The results should help to establish cost benchmarking increasingly and develop it as a strategic planning tool in order to support management in the healthcare sector in the decision‐making process.Originality/valueThe paper presents a new measuring method, which allows an holistic view of three influencing factors, namely the amount of beds, occupancy and the space consumption, to investigate weak points in cost efficiency on one chart.

Cost of Compensated Injuries and Occupational Diseases in Agriculture in Finland

Although agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries, the costs of agricultural injuries and illnesses are not well known. This study aimed to determine the cost burden from compensated injuries and occupational diseases in Finnish agriculture using workers compensation records. The incidence rates in 1996 were 7.4/100 for injuries and 0.61/100 for occupational diseases. Men had a higher risk of injury (RR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.81-1.97), but a lower risk of an occupational disease (RR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.60-0.78), compared to women. The total cost burden was €75 (Euros) per person in 1983, increasing to €215 in 1999. The total insurance cost in 1996 was €23.5 million consisting of medical care (16%), per diem (lost time compensation within one year from the incident) (37%), pension (lost time compensation after one year from the incident) (23%), survivors pension (3%), impairment allowance (7%), rehabilitation (6%), and other costs (9%). The total cost was 0.7% of the national gross farm income and 2.2% of the net farm income. The mean cost of 1996 cases was €1340 for injuries and €6636 for occupational diseases. Injuries represented 92% of the claims and 71% of the total costs. Occupational diseases represented 8% of the claims and 29% of the costs. Twenty percent of the most severe claims represented 79.5% of the total insurance costs. Injuries and occupational diseases result in significant costs in agriculture. Lost time was the largest cost item. Overall, injuries were more costly than occupational diseases. This study indicates that the 20%-80% rule applies to agricultural injury and illness costs, and from the cost standpoint, it is important to focus prevention efforts on the most severe incidents.

Healthcare resource utilization in the management of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

To study the natural history of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in terms of utilization of the healthcare resources and associated medical costs. All 29 patients treated at the University of New Mexico Health Center between 1 January 1992 and 1 December 1998 for an oesophageal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. For each individual patient, all medical resources utilized, facility costs, and physician fees were retrieved from the computerized databases of the collection departments. During the progress of the disease, the same type of diagnostic or therapeutic procedure became necessary a number of times, and patients underwent, on average, three (range one to eight) upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, five (range one to 11) computerized tomography scans, 35 (five to 143) X-ray examinations, and 28 (three to 46) radiation therapies or 39 (10 to 74) chemotherapies. The large variation in the numbers of resources utilized was also reflected by a corresponding variation in total healthcare costs. The mean cost per patient was $48 127, ranging between $13 454 and $139 721. Facility costs comprised 88% of all costs compared to physician fees which comprised 12%. The largest cost items, in declining order, were physician encounters ($16 916), radiation plus chemotherapy ($9909 plus $4891, respectively), and pharmacy prescriptions ($7565). The prolonged disease process and the many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures result in complications, side-effects, inconclusive tests, or failed therapies that all markedly increase the use of healthcare resources. Because such outcomes are the rule rather than the exception, the management of oesophageal adenocarcinoma is expensive.

Health-related economic costs of the three-mile island accident

On 28 March 1979, a nuclear power station at Three-Mile Island (TMI) near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, had a major breakdown. During the two-week period of the accident, about 150,000 residents were evacuated for reasons associated with safety and health. Many residents during and after the accident, regardless of whether they left or stayed, made mental and physical adjustments due to this accident. This paper is to estimate the economic costs incurred by individuals or communities as a result of a change in physical or mental health status and/or a change in health care services due to the TMI accident. The findings indicate that stress symptoms caused by the accident did affect the health-related behaviors of area residents. Of the costs examined, the economic costs of work days lost and physician visits are the largest cost items. There were some increases in consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and tranquilizers immediately following the accident.

The Economics of Producing Market Turkeys

This study determined: 1) The capital investment in land, buildings, and equipment and machinery for producing market turkeys as related to enterprise size; 2) the cost per pound to produce Broad-Breasted Bronze toms, hens, and mixed flocks as related to management system (brooding and range rearing from day-old poults vs. range rearing eight-week-old started poults), flock size, and number of flocks per year; 3) the amount and relative importance of variable and fixed cost items of production; 4) the effect of feed conversion efficiency, mortality rate, market age and weight, and utilization of brooding capacity on production costs; and 5) the identity and importance of factors accounting for economies of scale.Five hypothetical models (5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 thousand birds), with size based on brooding capacity or number of started poults placed on range at one time, and 1 or 2 flocks per year, were designed using the synthetic method. Budget standards (for physical facilities and inputs) and flock management practices reflected recommendations of Midwest poultry scientists and costs were based on 1965–66 price relationships in Kansas.Production costs for range rearing started poults were slightly higher than for brooding and range rearing. Raising two flocks per year instead of one reduced cost. Tom turkeys could be produced approximately 3 to 4 cents per pound cheaper than hens, and slightly cheaper than a mixed flock.Feed and poults, the largest cost items, amounted to 78.7% of total costs for the brooding and range rearing system; and 85.7% for the other management system. Depreciation on buildings, equipment, and machinery was the largest fixed cost item.Economies of scale—which existed for both management systems, with approximately half of the savings occurring between the 5,000- and 10,000-bird size flocks—were relatively small, especially in flocks larger than 10,000 birds, and were smaller for toms than for hens. The cost reduction per pound (0.95 cent) from brooding and range rearing two 5,000-bird mixed flocks per year rather than one was equal to that obtainable by expanding one mixed flock per year from 5,000 to 50,000 birds.Expanding the turkey enterprise to 50,000 birds, and two flocks per year, appears to be justified in terms of cost savings. But increased mortality (from 9 to 15%) for tom turkeys would offset economies of scale gained by expanding flock size from 20,000 to 50,000 birds.Production costs varied considerably, depending on how fully brooding capacity was utilized. Depreciation, interest on investment, repairs and maintenance, and poult cost were major factors accounting for economies of scale (between 5,000 and 50,000 birds) in brooding and range rearing.The optimum age to market tom turkeys was 26 weeks, based on feed requirements per pound of gain.