Markets
Last week’s corn price decline helped bring down break-evens for cattle feeders, but feeder prices remain strong.
Meanwhile placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.81 million, 11 percent below 2010.
While the decline catches many off guard, a continued rally in corn prices keeps feeder breakevens in the red.
Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.80 million, 10 percent above 2010.
Price activity was beneficial for those in the feeder cattle market, but for cattle feeders the dilemma of placing cattle below breakeven continues.
The “Meat MythCrushers” campaign is an effort to crush some of the more popular myths associated today with meat and poultry.
Sorting adds value to cattle feeders before selling to packers.
Live cattle prices are not keeping pace with input costs and until that changes, the opportunities to lock in profits become less.
Here are four of the top ways feeders can strike a balance between grade and gain, implant and marbling levels.
No improvement for breakevens on cattle entering the feedyard last week.
High corn and ration prices are forcing cattle feeders to be extremely selective in their purchases.
Beef herd owners can cut winter feed costs this winter by not feeding unproductive cows.
Breakeven projections show cattle feeders are only able to lock in negative margins right now.
High cattle prices are good, unless you’re buying them to feed.
The margin is still negative for cattle being placed on feed.
Cattle feeders are beginning to show less appetite for purchasing feeder cattle at current prices.
Accessibility to corn co-products provide Midwest cattle feeders opportunities but there are still challenges.
But hedging breakevens in fat cattle getting difficult given the current price of feeders and grain.
Eastern Livestock, LLC., one of the oldest and the biggest cattle order buyers in the U.S., has some $81 million in bad checks.
Steve Kay and Ron Plain offer analysis of USDA Cattle on Feed report.