An applied economic analysis of the demand for pork primal cuts

This study estimates domestic disappearance equations for the six main pork primal cuts (belly, butt, ham, loin, picnic, and rib) to determine the own-price, cross-price, and income elasticities for each cut. These equations were utilized to develop an economic model of the pork industry that was used to determine the impacts that various trade scenarios could have on monthly disappearance, production, exports, and cutout values both for each primal cut and pork as a whole. It was found that the own-price elasticity of bellies was most inelastic and of loins was least inelastic. Of the primal cuts, decreasing exports of bellies had the most detrimental impact on the pork cutout value. Of the main pork exports markets, decreasing exports to China had the most detrimental impact on the pork cutout value.