Consolidation in meatpacking has elicited many market power concerns and studies. A noncooperative, infinitely repeated game theory model was developed and an empirical model estimated to measure beef packing firm behavior in cattle procurement. Experimental market data from three semester-long...

The Fed Cattle Market Simulator (FCMS), an experimental market, was used to estimate impacts from two meatpacking firm mergers. Data were collected from two FCMS workshops with large agribusiness firms. Experimental mergers involved the two smaller packers in the market in one case and the two...

Economies of size studies can be categorized according to the methodology employed. Two recent studies for cattle slaughtering and beef fabrication that varied widely in methodology and data were compared using a binary variable regression model. Despite differences in data and the methodology...

This article addresses the cross training of employees in large agribusiness firms that hire employees having varying degrees and backgrounds. The successful use of an experiential fed cattle market simulator in cross training is described. Evaluations of workshop participants evidence the...

A conceptual framework for examining implications of excess slaughtering capacity in meatpacking is presented. Excess capacity stems from two sources: percentage plant utilization based on line speed and based on length of operating time per given period. Data from a mail survey of 310...

Options on cattle futures have expanded the realm of alternative marketing strategies available to cattle feeders. This study utilized actual feedlot data to compare the return distributions from 31 separate fed cattle marketing strategies using cash, futures, put option, and call option...

Agricultural cooperatives have undergone significant consolidation in recent years. Identifying firms with a potential to improve performance via merging requires an examination of financial performance of those firms relative to firms of similar and larger sizes. This study develops a set of...

Cattle on Feed (COF) reports are the most important source of cattle supply information for the beef industry. Accuracy of these reports is critical, as they have marked impacts on current and expected fed cattle market prices and influence resource allocation decisions. This study investigates...

Live hog prices must reflect end-use pork value to efficiently convey market information from consumers to producers. Precise end-use value is excessively costly to trace for each carcass given current technology. As such, pricing structures must be based upon carcass merit information that is...