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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1997

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Economics

First Advisor

Scott Fausti

Abstract

Conjoint analysis was used to identify the factors or attributes that motivate cow-calf producers to retain their weaned calves. The five attributes used, expected rate of gain, calf prices at weaning, cost of gain per winter, cattle futures price, and availability of funds were gathered through a mail indicator survey. The main survey was mailed to 248 cow-calf producers that had participated in the SDSU retained ownership demonstration project. These survey respondents ranked scenarios of combined attribute levels that described various market situations. The conjoint analysis model used Ordinary Least Squares regression to calculate the part-worths for each attribute. The part-worths were then used to identify the relative importance of each of the attributes and the variation between them. The results indicate that expected rate of gain in retained cattle was the main determinate in producers' decisions to retain ownership.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Beef cattle -- Economic aspects

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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