CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF FORAGE FINISHED BEEF

Consumer/Household Economics,

CONCENTRATION OF FOOD RETAILING IN LOUISIANA

Agribusiness,

RESTAURANT CONCENTRATION IN LOUISIANA

Growth of the franchise restaurant industry and merger activity among restaurants raise questions concerning concentration in the Louisiana restaurant industry. Firm employment data from the Louisiana Department of Labor for selected urban and rural parishes for 1975-86 and the concentration ratio, herfindahl index and the entropy measure were used for these concentration estimates. Concentration was, in general, low in urban parishes and higher in rural parishes. Concentration decreased from 1975 to 1986 in five of the seven urban parishes and increased or was unchanged in five of the eight rural parishes. Ceteris paribus, this would imply higher profits in rural as opposed to urban parishes. The correlation between the concentration ratio and a customer density measure was positive indicating competition for business was lower in the more concentrated markets.Agribusiness,

Economic considerations of the effects of sire and length of feeding on beef steers and carcasses

Digitized 2007 AES MoU.Includes bibliographical references (pages 25-26)

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE LOGOS FOR FARM-RAISED CATFISH

Product differentiation can consist of identifying the corporate firm that produces the product (such as Kraft) or the producer cooperative that produces the product (such as Ocean Spray). The Catfish Institute (funded by producers, feed mills and processors) was created to promote the generic sales of farm-raised catfish. Also, a number of Mississippi catfish processors are differentiating their product by promoting it as Mississippi Farm-Raised Catfish. Louisiana farm-raised catfish are highly comparable in breeding, feeding and processing to catfish marketed as Mississippi Farm-Raised Catfish. Use of a state logo is based o the premise that loyalties tend to encourage food consumers to patronize local producers. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center researchers surveyed a sample of 5,000 households in three major Louisiana cities (New Orleans, Lafayette and Shreveport) in early 1992 to estimate their willingness to purchase a product classified as "Louisiana Farm-Raised Catfish," given the instate availability of catfish with the Mississippi Farm-Raised Catfish logo. The larger the percentage of Louisiana households willing to buy Louisiana Farm-Raised Catfish at higher or equal prices to Mississippi Farm-Raised Catfish, the more effective the proposed Louisiana logo and the stronger the premise that state loyalties exist and are effective. The survey data, which indicate that the proposed "Louisiana Farm-Raised Catfish" would be popular with many Louisiana consumers, were analyzed with respect to location (city) and socio-economic characteristics of the households using Logit analysis. As firms and states develop new nontraditional agricultural products, these results indicate that a state logo has the potential to be effectively used in promoting these new products.Agribusiness,

A NEW LOOK AT BEEF CATTLE PRICE REPORTING CLASSIFICATIONS

Demand and Price Analysis,

FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY IN A NEW ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISE: THE CASE OF THE RATITE INDUSTRY

Technical efficiency measures are calculated for ratite producers using data envelopment analysis. Regression analysis is then used to determine producer characteristics that are likely to lead to higher technical efficiencies. Results indicate that the most technically efficient ratite producers in Louisiana are not producing at the benchmark efficiency level advocated by the industry. Producer experience with other livestock, specialization, and labor are factors likely to lead to higher technical efficiency. These results are expected to hold for most new, alternative livestock enterprises.Data envelopment analysis, Ratite, Technical efficiency, Livestock Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis,

BEEF PRODUCER CHOICE IN CATTLE MARKETING

In addition to the conventional auction method of cattle marketing, alternative marketing arrangements include sale by private treaty, video auction, retained ownership, and use of strategic alliances. This study examines use of alternative marketing arrangements and types of producers using each. Thirty-nine percent of producers used alternative arrangements.Marketing,

Beef Producer Choice in Cattle Marketing

In addition to the conventional auction method of cattle marketing, some alternative marketing arrangements include sale by private treaty, video auction, retained ownership, and use of strategic alliances. This study finds that 91% of Louisiana producers use conventional auctions, while 39% use other types of marketing arrangements. The most heavily used alternative marketing arrangement is private treaty, at 26%. Those producers using alternative marketing arrangements tend to be larger, have heavier weaning weights, have more diverse farming operations, be younger, have greater contact with their county extension agents, and depend less on income from off-farm sources.cattle marketing, conventional auction, private treaty, strategic alliance, video auction, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

A CROSS SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER TRENDS IN RED MEAT CONSUMPTION

Food consumption patterns have received considerable attention lately, especially changes in red meat consumption. This article examines and analyzes changes in meat consumption patterns in a southern state. Differences are reported based on demographics and consumer expressed preferences. The results reaffirm the negative role of health concerns and fat on red meat consumption and the positive influence on poultry and seafood. The findings agree with related other studies and suggest that further research into the changing meat consumption patterns is warranted.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,