Feedlot and Packer Pricing Behavior: Implications for Competition Research

Seldom are observed losing bids available in industry data. A special workshop of the Fed Cattle Market Simulator was designed to capture bids for each pen of cattle traded. Data enabled identifying buyer and seller behavior in the price discovery process, both before and after imposed mergers of the two largest and two smallest packer teams. Highest losing bids also were estimated with packer bid functions and compared with observed highest losing bids. An estimated price discovery model indicated market structure as measured by number of buyers was more important than simply the number of bids or size of transactions.Buyer behavior, Competition, Fed cattle, Marketing, Pricing, Seller behavior, Livestock Production/Industries,

Beef Packers’ Captive Supplies: An Upward Trend? A Pricing Edge?

Livestock Production/Industries,

SHORT-PERIOD PRICING MODELS FOR FED CATTLE AND IMPACTS OF WHOLESALE CARCASS BEEF AND LIVE CATTLE FUTURES MARKET PRICES

Demand and Price Analysis,

Preferential Cattle and Hog Pricing by Packers: Evidence from Mandatory Price Reports

Preferential pricing was one of several concerns leading to mandatory price reporting. Seven years of “new” data from mandatory reports are examined to determine if evidence exists of preferential pricing by packers for fed cattle and slaughter hogs. Weekly data show some alternative marketing methods track closer to cash market prices than others. Some differences can be explained, while others are not as clear. Evidence was found that cash prices lead prices for alternative marketing methods on rising markets but trail them on declining markets.Alternative marketing arrangements, Cattle, Hogs, Marketing, Meatpacking procurement, Price discovery, Pricing, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

TOWARD A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE CARCASS BEEF MARKET - WEAK FORM TEST OF THE EFFICIENT MARKETS MODEL

Industrial Organization, Livestock Production/Industries,

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SLAUGHTER LAMB PRICES

Data on weekly summaries of slaughter lamb sales in 1996 were analyzed to determine price differences for factors affecting lamb prices. Models were compared with a 1991 study and across regions. Demand and supply variables were found important as well as marketing methods, sale lot sizes, seasonal and regional variables.Livestock Production/Industries,

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF COMPETITION IN THE PRICE DISCOVERY PROCESS FOR SLAUGHTER LAMBS

Buyer competition in the price discovery process for slaughter lambs at an Oklahoma teleauction was studied. Number of buyers positively influenced both absolute and relative sale prices but did not significantly affect buyer gross margins. Buyer market shares also affected prices paid and buyer gross margins. Thus, competition among buyers was found to be important in the price discovery process.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

PRODUCTIVITY-CONCENTRATION RELATIONSHIP IN THE U.S. MEATPACKING INDUSTRY

Previous research found a positive relationship between concentration and total factor productivity in food manufacturing. On industry (i.e., meatpacking plants [SIC 2011]) was selected for independent analysis due to a relatively sharp increase in concentration in recent years. The methodology chosen was similar to previous studies. Total factor productivity increased 2.4 percent per year, and labor productivity increased 3.3 percent per year for meatpacking plants over the 1958-82 period. Concentration in meatpacking did not positively or negatively affect total factor productivity or labor productivity over the 25-year study period.Productivity Analysis,

Supply Effects on Price Discovery and Pricing Choice for Fed Cattle

Price discovery research related to fed cattle has involved data covering a relatively small portion of the longer cattle cycle. Thus, research has not explicitly addressed the impacts alternative supply conditions have on price discovery. Additionally, little research has addressed the pricing choices for fed cattle marketing or procurement. In research reported here using data from an experimental market, the Fed Cattle Market Simulator, models were estimated that encompassed live weight, dressed weight, and grid pricing under alternative supply scenarios, specifically a larger supply and smaller supply period. Variables explaining fed cattle price variation differed somewhat between the two supply periods. For the two periods combined, results were nearly as theoretically expected. One consistent finding was that higher quality fed cattle marketed with a grid brought higher prices in both supply periods. Similarly, some differences were noted in the pricing choice model between the two periods and the combined periods. Another consistent finding was that having lower quality cattle to market increased the probability of marketing them on a live weight basis. Higher quality cattle were more apt to be marketed with a grid.Livestock Production/Industries,

Price Discovery and Pricing Choice Under Divergent Supply Scenarios in an Experimental Market for Fed Cattle

Previous research has not addressed the impacts of alternative supply conditions on price discovery and pricing choice. This study estimated models with data from an experimental market, the Fed Cattle Market Simulator, encompassing live weight, dressed weight, and grid pricing under two alternative supply scenarios. Significance of variables explaining transaction price variation and pricing choice differed between the two supply periods. Overall results were close to expectations. Higher quality cattle marketed with a grid brought higher prices in both supply periods. Having lower quality cattle in either supply period increased the probability of cattle being marketed (purchased) on a live weight basis.experimental market, fed cattle, market simulator, price discovery, pricing choice, pricing methods, Demand and Price Analysis,