Implicit values of Beef carcass characteristics in Japan: Implications for the US Beef export industry

The signing of the 1988 Japan Beef Market Access Agreement has provided the US beef industry easier access to the Japanese market. To fully exploit the export opportunities afforded by the agreement, US producers may need to target, at least partially, the high-valued market niches. A hedonic price analysis was conducted to estimate the values of various yield and quality characteristics of beef carcasses in Japan. These estimates can be used to develop more profitable feeding practices for the Japanese market. The results also suggest that longer-fed US beef was priced similarly to Japanese dairy steers.