Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-15-2003

Keywords

steer calves, livestock markets, cattle production, cattle ownership

Abstract

Retained ownership of steer calves is an investment decision for cow/calf producers. Data collected over a three-year period on 845 steer calves reveals that retaining ownership of steer calves is, on average, profitable. Systematic and unsystematic risks associated with retaining ownership of steer calves are identified. Empirical results indicate that unsystematic risk account for 67% of the variability in the rate of return to retained ownership. Empirical evidence also suggests that retaining ownership is a riskier investment decision than assumed in the earlier literature. This suggests that the lack of enthusiasm for retaining ownership by cow/calf producers is the result of the level of risk associated with retaining ownership rather than producers being too risk averse.

Publisher

Department of Economics, South Dakota State University

Series Number

2003-6

Number of Pages

19

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