In the United States, tick-borne disease cases more than doubled, from 22,000 in 2004 to more than 48,000 in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

U.S. cattle on feed Sept. 1, 2019, were estimated at 11.0 million head, down 1% from a year ago, USDA reports.

Beef production will increase this year, and that remains a key driver for the price of fed cattle.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices were $2 to $7 higher at auction across the nation. Abundant forage conditions has left ranchers in no hurry to sell cattle.

Citing growing frustration with low cattle prices while beef packers reap large profits, a grassroots campaign was launched this week seeking the support of President Donald Trump.

Four months after announcing a trade agreement lifting longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exported to Japan, the U.S. has agreed to increase its low-tariff quota for Japanese beef shipped to America.