The motivations for this case study are recent developments in the U.S. broiler chicken and pork industries involving implementation of agricultural supply control practices by the largest broiler and pork processors in the United States. Buyers of broilers and pork filed antitrust lawsuits alleging that by implementing these supply control practices broiler and pork processors engaged in unlawful price-fixing conspiracies. The case study introduces economic, business, and legal issues related to implementation of supply control practices in the U.S. broiler chicken and pork industries. The case study presents economic models that help explain the conduct and performance of these industries in the analyzed setting, and it includes a basic market and price analysis. The intended audiences are undergraduate and graduate students, as well as extension and outreach communities. The teaching note includes multiple-choice questions and suggested answers to analytical, discussion, and multiple-choice questions. The teaching note also discusses teaching objectives, teaching strategies, and student background knowledge.

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Court Documents and Relevant Webpages

Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation webpage. 2022. https://www.broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com/.

Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation (End-User Consumer) webpage. 2022. https://www.overchargedforchicken.com/.

In Re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation. 2019. Case: 1:16-cv-08637. Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended and Consolidated Class Action Complaint. https://www.broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com/admin/services/connectedapps.cms.extensions/1.0.0.0/asset?id= a4dc225b-c06f-4d84-b754-d03a73d512fa&languageId=1033&inline=true.

Pork Antitrust Litigation webpage. 2022. https://porkantitrustlitigation.com/.

Pork Indirect Purchaser Antitrust Litigation webpage. 2022. https://www.overchargedforpork.com/.

In Re Pork Antitrust Litigation. 2020. Case 0:18-cv-01776-JRT-HB. Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs’ Third Amended and Consolidated Class Action Complaint. https://porkantitrustlitigation.com/documents/2020-01-15%20-%20DPP%20Third%20Amended%20complaint.pdf.