Risk and Market Participant Behavior in the U.S. Slaughter-Cattle Market

Abstract

Incomplete information generates uncertainty for market participants in the slaughter-cattle market. Buyer and seller behavior in the presence of that uncertainty is examined. Statistically significant risk premiums are charged by packers when buying slaughter cattle on either a live- or dressed-weight basis compared to buying on a grade-and-yield basis. Pratt-Arrow risk-aversion coefficients are calculated for buyers and these remain constant over all marketing methods. Sellers market cattle under all three marketing methods, suggesting producers' attitudes toward risk (risk-aversion coefficients) vary.

Keywords

• cattle marketing alternatives
• risk aversion
• risk premiums