Estimating Desirable Cattle Traits Using Latent Class and Mixed Logit Models: A Choice Modeling Application to the U.S. Grass-Fed Beef Industry

This study examines the preferences for cattle traits using mixed logit and latent class models. Choice experiment data from a 2013 mail survey of 1,052 U.S. grass-fed beef producers were used. The findings indicate that grass-fed beef producers generally preferred lower-priced, heavy animals that were small-to-medium framed and easy to handle for grass-finishing. Black animals that were retained from their own calves were preferred. Relative to intact males, steers and heifers were preferred. Except for the estimated parameter for the weight attribute, the standard deviations for the temperament, body frame, source, color, gender, and price attribute levels were significant at the P ≤ 0.05 levels, implying the presence of heterogeneity in the sample. It is important to understand the existing preference heterogeneity within the study population as it provides insights to cattle producers and cattle marketers on the value placed on cattle traits by different groups of grass-fed producers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural Economics

Grantor

Agricultural Economics

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Sitienei, Isaac

• Grass-Fed Beef
• Cattle traits
• Latent Class Logit Model
• Mixed Logit Model
• Preference

Statement dc:rights

• withheld
• Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-06262015-155245
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/554

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1553