Structure of the cattle market network in Mexico, 2017-2021

Abstract

Cattle ranching, transportation, and utilization are issues associated with resource endowment, distance traveled, and types of markets. The structure of the livestock mobilization network by market at the municipal and state level in Mexico during the 2017-2021 period was investigated. The data were analyzed using measures of economic structure and Social Network Analysis. During the period under analysis, an annual average of 8.9 million heads of cattle were moved in Mexico: 57.9 % interstate and 42.1 % intrastate. The most important markets were for slaughter and fattening, the rest corresponded to beef breeding, reproduction, fairs, and shows. The average market and state specialization were low, with a higher specialization in the entertainment market. The structure of the state network of all markets showed a high degree of average market and density, but low centrality of output and input. These measures mean that, on average, states can connect in 1.2 steps to the national network and in 1.7 steps to the network per purpose. The authors conclude that the state structure of the livestock market in Mexico is composed of 32 origins, 32 destinations, six markets, and major interstate mobilization from the south to the north of the country.