Date of Award:

5-1970

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Applied Economics

Department name when degree awarded

Agricultural Economics

Committee Chair(s)

Darwin B. Nielsen

Committee

Darwin B. Nielsen

Committee

Roice Anderson

Committee

Norris J. Stenquist

Abstract

Reliable price data for fat cattle in Utah are becoming difficult to obtain because fewer and fewer slaughter cattle go through market channels where live cattle prices are reported.

The objectives of this study were to determine how correlated Utah fat cattle prices are with the California dressed meat market for cattle and formulate an equation or equations enabling reliable price predictions to be made for the Utah slaughter cattle market.

Utah choice and good steer prices (both direct and auction) were compared to the San Francisco wholesale meat market prices. Utah choice steer, good steer and choice heifer prices (both direct and auction) were compared with the Los Angeles wholesale meat market prices. All price comparisons were highly correlated except Utah good steer prices and Los Angeles dressed meat market prices,

A regression analysis not only gave the correlation coefficients but was also used to determine any time lags between the Utah slaughter cattle market and the California dressed meat market for cattle. Price changes in the Utah slaughter cattle market are preceded by at least one weeks change in the California dressed meat market for all classifications and grades of slaughter cattle used in this study.

A mathematical model was formulated which equated Utah fat cattle prices with the California dressed meat market prices. This model as well as statistical model obtained from the regression analysis if used with the time lags predict Utah fat cattle prices very satisfactorily.

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Included in

Economics Commons

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