Abstract
The objective of this review was to identify the selection factors and information sources utilised by farmers and processors when selecting a breed or breeder of rams, by analysing pertinent literature on these topics. It was suggested that breeders, farmers and processors interact within a complex industrial network that is not well understood. The selection of a breed or breeder by farmers and processors was considered an industrial purchasing decision, as each of organisation exhibits characteristics more similar to commercial entities than consumers.
It was therefore appropriate to critique the existing literature on industrial purchasing. The critical role of selection factors in the traditional models of industrial purchasing was noted, and it was suggested that selecting a breed or breeder was similar to choosing an industrial product or vendor. The selection factors important in the selection of an industrial product or vendor seemed to vary due to contextual differences. This suggests some uncertainty with respect to the selection factors that will be used by farmers and processors selecting a breed or breeder of rams. These models were also not designed to explain the impacts of relationships and networks on industrial purchasing. Although contemporary literature seems to explain the implications of an industrial network, the impacts of an agricultural network are uncertain. Finally, the importance of personal information sources in industrial purchasing was noted. Although some research sought to identify the information sources important in an agricultural context, these studies were rare, and did not take a network perspective.
The key finding of this review is that replication of the industrial purchasing literature has been insufficient to allow an understanding the selection factors and information sources utilised by farmers and processors in this agricultural network. Thus, primary research is needed to identify the selection factors and information sources utilised by farmers and processors when faced with this industrial purchase decision.