Optimal hedge ratios are estimated for various weights of feeder cattle in four cash markets based on CME data from 1992 to 1999. Three-month uniform hedges are simulated for every weight, contract, and cash market combination. Hedging effectiveness is compared empirically across locations to...

Contagious animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are often referred to as economic diseases because of the magnitude of economic harm they can cause to producers and to local communities. This study demonstrates the local economic impact of a hypothetical FMD outbreak in southwest...

Debates about captive supplies have been ongoing for more than a decade. This study investigates the effects captive supplies have on the beef farm-to-wholesale marketing margin. A relative price spread (RPS) model is used to estimate beef farm-to-wholesale marketing margins. Estimates indicate...

Live cattle futures markets do not offer much opportunity for effective hedging of wholesale beef cuts. If a Choice-to-Select price spread futures contract were introduced this would enhance hedging effectiveness although likely not enough to encourage cross hedging. If a Choice boxed beef...

Grid pricing is an increasingly popular method of pricing fed cattle. However, there are several issues related to grid pricing. This paper discusses those issues and alternatives both for base prices in grids and the premium-discount grids themselves. Included is information on the status of...

Feeder cattle price-weight slides are analyzed using transactions data on 46,123 pens of feeder cattle over a 10-year period. Fed cattle futures prices and corn prices are important determinants of price-weight slides. Cattle producers can use this information when making sell timing decision,...