Relationship Between Cattle Cash and Futures Markets

Date of Graduation

Fall 2005

Degree

Master of Natural and Applied Science in Agriculture

Department

College of Agriculture

Committee Chair

Arbindra Rimal

Abstract

Feeder cattle cash prices(FCC), live cattle cash prices(LCC) for Missouri, feeder cattle futures prices (FCF), live cattle futures prices (LCF), and corn futures prices (CF) were collected weekly for 260 weeks from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2004 (n=260). The objective of this project was to determine if there continues to be strong relationship between the cash and futures markets for both live and feeder cattle despite recent changes in the beef industry. The study also evaluates the influence of cattle futures prices and corn futures prices; corn futures prices; and trend/structural change; and cattle futures prices, corn futures prices, and trend/structural change on cattle cash prices. Furthermore, this study looked at the effects of industry events such as Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and terrorist attacks on the relationship between cash and futures prices for both live and feeder cattle. Results indicate there remains a strong relationship between the cash and futures markets for live and feeder cattle. Data suggests that futures prices explain approximately 95% of the variability in the cash prices for both live and feeder cattle. When corn futures prices and trend variables (year) were added, the explanatory power of the model is enhanced slightly. Little variation was observed in cash-futures relationships during the times surrounding the outbreaks of BSE, FMD, and the terrorists attacks.

Keywords

feeder cattle prices, live cattle prices, livestock futures, risk management, cattle marketing

Subject Categories

Agriculture

Copyright

© Rachel Anne Postin

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Dissertation/Thesis

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