The purpose of the paper is to examine the possibilities for using systems analysis concepts in planning and analyzing various sizes and types of beef production units. There are a number of aspects to be considered in applying systems concepts to beef production systems, and this paper will discuss some of them. The basis reason for using this approach is to provide farm management with a method for improving a beef production operation where uncertain conditions exist that create problems for the farm manager. By using systems analysis planning models in a beef production operation, the farm manager may be able to pinpoint problem areas and eliminate or minimize their efforts and decrease the level of uncertainty within certain areas of operation.