Cattle prices pushed higher with trade volumes also increasing. The market has been aided by the decline in committed cattle, helping independent feeders clean up their showlists.

North Dakota is one of those areas that has been dealing with drought for months, and now another concern, after anthrax was found in a cattle herd in Kidder County last week.

Calls for cattle market reforms could hinder alternative marketing agreements (AMA), a value-based marketing tool that has improved beef quality over a generation.

Late week sales in the North topped the market but fed cattle were firm to higher across all regions. Wholesale beef prices surged more than $18 per cwt. higher for the week.

The number of dogs being imported into the U.S. for resale from countries affected by ASF is growing. Combine that with an increasing risk of foreign animal disease spread, and it’s a formula for potential disaster.

Selection decisions impact how much genetic improvement we can make. With this in mind, using available DNA testing technology can cost effectively accelerate reaching our breeding goals.