In United States agricultural regulation, packer concentration is the degree to which a few large firms dominate total sales within segments of the
meat-packing industry, which, some farmers and other critics contend, can cause or at least contribute to lower prices for their animals.
Market control by five large packers in the early 1900s led to passage of the
Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (P.L. 67-51; 7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.). Concentration declined after that, but has increased sharply in more recent years. According to
USDA, for example, the four largest firms accounted for 82% of the
steer and
heifer
Heifer may refer to:
* Heifer (cow), a young cow before she has had her first calf
* Frank Heifer (1854–1893), American outfielder and first baseman
* '' The Heifer'' (''La vaquilla''), 1985 Spanish comedy film
* Heifer International
Heifer ...
slaughter in 2000, compared with 36% in 1980. Four-firm concentration in hog slaughter was 56% in 2000, compared with 34% in 1980. Numerous government-sponsored studies and investigations have been inconclusive on the relationship in recent years between concentration and prices.
References
*
United States Department of Agriculture
{{Agri-stub