Evaluating Price Impacts for Stated Attributes of Western Canadian Feeder Calves Marketed via Online Auction
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Hobbs, Dr. Jill | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Micheels, Dr. Eric | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Lloyd-Smith, Dr. Patrick | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Tonsor, Dr. Glynn | |
| dc.creator | Monvoisin, Josee Renee | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-12-10T17:17:30Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-10T17:17:30Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2021-11 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-12-10 | |
| dc.date.submitted | November 2021 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2021-12-10T17:17:30Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | This research provides insight on the value of attributes for feeder calves sold via electronic auction in Western Canada from 2016 to 2020 during the months of August to December. Results from this research can provide producers with valuable information to market their feeder calves more effectively. By identifying attributes buyers value and attributes that are less desired and associated with price discounts producers can make more informed marketing and management decisions. Lot description details and sales results for 4,866 feeder calf lots (3,235 steer and 1,631 heifer) representing 505,074 head were analyzed using a hedonic pricing model with OLS regression to estimate the price impacts of 17 attributes. The model variables considered lot (gender, number of head, province of origin), genetic (hide colour, frame size), management (weight, weight uniformity, flesh, implant use and weaning status), marketing (age verification, VBP+ mention, EU eligibility) and market structure (marketing week, days to delivery, expected fed price) characteristics. Steer and heifer lots were estimated separately, with a pooled model and five annual models for each sex. Traditional feeder calf attributes - weight, lot size and weight uniformity - showed consistently statistically significant results. Marketing attributes ‒ VBP+ and EU Eligibility ‒ only estimated price premiums in the last two years of the steer model. From 2016 to 2020 the percentage of lots mentioning VBP+ increased from 3% to 15% and the percentage of lots noting EU eligibility increased from 0% to 8%. Lack of significance for value-added marketing attributes may be related to a lack of third-party verification for claims made on lot listing reports. The percent of lots mentioning age verification declined 12% from 2016 to 2020 and the premium declined from 2017 to 2019 for steer lots. In all models Charolais-influenced calves received premiums while steer lots with mixed colours were discounted compared to black-hided lots. It can be concluded from the results that feeder calves marketed in larger, more uniform lots with implant status disclosed receive higher prices in the western Canadian online auction market. It is important for sellers to provide all information for a lot of calves when marketing online as buyers value information on attributes when making purchasing decisions. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10388/13715 | |
| dc.subject | Online Auction | |
| dc.subject | Feeder Calves | |
| dc.subject | Hedonic | |
| dc.subject | Price Impacts | |
| dc.title | Evaluating Price Impacts for Stated Attributes of Western Canadian Feeder Calves Marketed via Online Auction | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Agricultural and Resource Economics | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Agricultural Economics | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Saskatchewan | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |