Expectations of Cattle Feeding Investors in Feeder Cattle Placements

Terry L. Kastens and Ted Schroeder

No 118159, Staff Papers from Kansas State University, Department of Agricultural Economics

Abstract: Cattle feeders appear irrational when they place cattle on feed when projected profits are negative. Long futures positions appear to offer superior returns to cattle feeding investment. Cattle feeder behavior suggests that they believe a downward bias in live cattle futures persists and that cattle feeders use different information than the live cattle futures market price when making placement decisions. This paper examines feeder cattle placement determinants and compares performance of expected hedgeable profits with past actual profits in explaining feeder cattle' placements. Past actual profits are found to be more important placement determinants than expected profits based upon the live cattle futures market, even though hedgeable profits provide superior forecasts of future profits.

Keywords: Livestock; Production/Industries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32
Date: 1993-07
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ksaesp:118159

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.118159

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