The influence of weight and fat on lamb prices revisited

Charlie Hufton, Garry R. Griffith and John D. Mullen

No 6021, 2008 Conference (52nd), February 5-8, 2008, Canberra, Australia from Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society

Abstract: Previous research has found inconsistencies in the valuation of weight and fat characteristics of lamb carcasses between the saleyard and wholesale markets. In this paper, recent New South Wales saleyard and wholesale price data on different classes of lamb are analysed using hedonic methods to determine the relative influence of weight and fat on prices received. Fat score 2 lambs are heavily discounted relative to fat score 3 lambs, and there are significant seasonal price differentials, but there are no significant premiums or discounts for weight or other fat characteristics. These results hold for both the saleyard and wholesale markets. The implication is that the efficiency of price discovery in the Australian lamb market has improved a little in recent years in the sense that premiums and discounts are now consistent across market levels. However consumers’ stated preferences for large lean lambs are not being reflected in price incentives generated in the live lamb and lamb carcass markets.

Keywords: Demand and Price Analysis; Livestock Production/Industries; Marketing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17
Date: 2008
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aare08:6021

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.6021

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