Cover title: Major determinates of feeder cattle prices at Arizona livestock auctions. / "September 1972."/ "This study is part of Arizona's contribution to Western Regional Marketing Research Project, WM-62, entitled `Technological and Structural Changes in the Marketing of Beef."

No description available.

Photocopy of typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1980. / Bibliography: leaves [127]-129. / Microfiche. / viii, 129 leaves, bound 28 cm

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1932 F61

Fluctuating feeder cattle prices have a direct affect on the revenue variability of feeder cattle producers. Hedging in the commodity futures market is a marketing strategy which can, if properly used, reduce the financial risk of feeder cattle producers. If the closing basis value is known when a hedge is placed, a price can be established for the feeder cattle in advance. This fact prompted research in determining the factors which affect nearby feeder cattle basis in the Pacific Northwest. This research is an attempt to identify factors which influence the feeder cattle basis through their influence on the prices which compose the basis—i.e., the cash and futures prices. The feeder cattle cash price has been established as a function of the factors affecting the profit of feedlot operations. Controversy exists on the factors which influence the futures price of livestock products; however, the use of technical indicators is well established in the literature. For the purposes of this research feeder cattle basis is developed as a function of the profit factors and a lag-trend indicator along with dummy variables which influence feeder cattle futures contracts over time. The profit factors include expected slaughter price, corn price, and interest rate values. These profit factors are expected to influence the cash price of feeder cattle. The lag-trend indicator is a calculated trend of the basis over the past two time periods and is expected to represent the analysis made by traders in both the futures and cash markets of past events or prices. This analysis by traders in the futures market will be similar to their use of technical indicators. In specifying the model, two methods of analyzing the expected affects of the profit factors on the basis are acknowledged. In this research, the profit factors are assumed to influence only the cash price. Therefore, the effect of the factors on basis is hypothesized by making assumptions about the price movement of the feeder cattle futures price. The analyses produce various hypotheses about the expected effects of the profit factors on basis. The empirical results produce evidence that the estimated equations explain a good proportion of the Pacific Northwest basis of feeder cattle for light and heavy weight categories. After a close analysis of the profit factors, corn price is concluded to have a positive influence on 500-600 pound feeder cattle basis and a negative influence on 700-800 pound feeder cattle basis. However, due to the inability of the methods to hypothesize the effect of slaughter price on basis and/or to hypothesize, with consistency, the correct signs of the estimated interest rate coefficient, conclusions are not made about their influences on the basis. Feeder cattle producers can apply the information produced in this research in making hedging decisions. However, a thorough knowledge and analysis of hedging theory and market conditions should be undertaken first. Since a predicted closing basis is needed by feeder cattle producers to establish a "locked-in" cash price, further research in developing a forecasting model of feeder cattle basis is warranted. / Graduation date: 1981

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

This research quantifies specific cash price premiums and discounts associated with various characteristics of slaughter cattle in Virginia. Econometric models of Virginia slaughter cattle basis were developed for each practical combination of sex and market by differentials in weight, grade, breed, lot size, order of sale of a particular lot, number of cattle in a particular sale, and a seasonal indicator based on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures contract month. Explanatory models were found to account for 41 to 64 percent of the variation in slaughter cattle basis for steers and 35 to 47 percent of the variation in slaughter cattle basis for heifers. Results explain over 30 percent more of basis variation than previous research. These basis estimates reduce basis error and hedging risk and potentially offer Virginia cattlemen the means to initiate effective slaughter cattle hedging programs. Furthermore, the implementation of a forward pricing agency which uses estimated basis values may provide alternatives to facing basis risk when selling slaughter cattle in Virginia. An analysis of basis risk provides some indication of the magnitude of possible exposure facing the average Virginia cattleman when making hedging decisions based on estimation procedures as defined herein. The formation of a forward pricing agency should be contingent upon further analyses of basis risk as outlined in this research. Investigation of basis estimate residuals concluded that more variability is present as time to contract maturity increases. This information should prove valuable for those involved in trading options on live cattle futures as options expire one month prior to their respective futures contracts. / Master of Science

This study traces the annual average prices received per hundredweight for veal calves at the Chicago market and the annual average weekly earnings of employees in all manufacturing industries. The period of time covered by the study is 1900 to 1951.

Graduation date: 1971