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Analysts claim Marfrig's financial leverage will remain elevated even after the recent sale of assets aimed at reducing debt load.

Analysts claim Marfrig's financial leverage will remain elevated even after the recent sale of assets aimed at reducing debt load.

It would appear cattle feeders are betting on the come in the market based on strong cash feeder cattle prices.

Cattle on Feed reaches nearly 11.1 million head, the highest mark reached for August since USDA began the series in 1996.

More than 25,000 lb. of ground beef has been recalled after Cargill Meat Solutions determined that the product was possibly contaminated with E. coli.

Cattle on Feed reaches nearly 11.1 million head, the highest mark reached for August since USDA began the series in 1996.

More than 25,000 lb. of ground beef has been recalled after Cargill Meat Solutions determined that the product was possibly contaminated with E. coli.

Cattle and hog margins are headed south as supplies build and packers run near capacity.

Cattle and hog margins are headed south as supplies build and packers run near capacity.

The fall seasonal trend strongly implies lower beef carcass cutout values after Labor Day through the middle of October.

We are now fully transitioning into a primary calf selling time of the year for cow-calf producers and into an active buying time for stocker producers.

The softening that is taking place in today’s market seems to have more to do with the seasonal price patterns established through supply and demand factors.

An expansion to a Texas Panhandle packing plant will add 800 more head per day in slaughter capacity, primarily for cull cow and bull processing.

Feeding margins with red ink will continue into September, but in general the losses are not crippling.

In the end, there appears to be a lot of sources of downside risk and little potential for improved prices.

Large kills and on time marketings in most areas should help stem the downward movement in the cash trade market.

Cattle feeding margins declined $34 per head last week as cash cattle prices fell $2 per cwt. , leaving closeouts $5 per head in the red.

Cow-calf producers have a number of factors to consider when weighing the decision of retained ownership.

The key to the market will continue to be beef demand as expected supply will change very little.

Cow-calf producers have a number of factors to consider when weighing the decision of retained ownership.

Beef, pork and poultry production are increasing. Fortunately, something else has changed. Specifically, beef demand is rising.

Kansas pilot project aims at improving cattle traceability.

Kansas pilot project aims at improving cattle traceability.

At this point in early August, we’ve added the June and July head harvest counts only to see steer harvest not only failed to increase in the year-over-year numbers, but actually declined.

The risks and rewards of retained ownership are fairly even.

The combination of higher board and healthy packer participation helped push the market $2 higher in most regions.

Feeder cattle prices have found some footing the past couple of weeks with prices slightly higher this week compared to last week.

Despite cattle prices being lower than year-ago levels, of the major livestock markets beef has weathered the storm better than poultry or pork.

The latest USDA Cattle report provided the most recent pieces of information to the ever-evolving cattle inventory picture.

Research by the University of Nebraska investigating summer dry lotting of cow-calf pairs has shown seasonal dry lotting can be a cost competitive option to traditional production systems. 

The IGS Feeder Profit Calculator incorporates the genetic knowledge of most mainstream sires, regardless of breed, by referencing their EPD profile.

Moving through the second half of 2018, the picture will become even clearer as the fall run of calves come to market and as producers continue to cull cows.

One unknown hanging over all meat markets is the impact of rising tariffs on meat exports.

Sam Kane Beef Processors LLC agreed to promptly repay nearly $38 million in payments owed to livestock sellers, as two complaints were filed saying the company violated the Packers and Stockyards Act.

The past decade shows a 23 percentage point improvement in marbling across Texas packers, matching that of Kansas if we use 2008 to the mid-year 2018 figures.

The July Cattle report confirms larger cattle inventories in 2018.

USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, released July 20th did not include many big surprises, but there were some interesting points. But, first the basics.

Feeder cattle futures have been showing strength and the cash market is in tow though at a slower pace.

USDA's July 2018 cattle on feed estimate was the largest July 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

USDA's July 2018 cattle on feed estimate was the largest July 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

By the numbers, cattle producers with summer stockers and cow-calf operations should be experiencing a bit less stress about the market this year.

Cash market prices topped out for the year in February when the weekly 5-market average was $129.75 per cwt. (live basis) and prices eroded only to rebound slightly in May to $124.81.

Expect cattle and other livestock price volatility to continue until trade disputes are resolved.

Cash cattle prices declined $2 per cwt. last week while the beef cutout dipped $3 per cwt., contributing to lower industry margins.

The addition of the two Cattle Empire yards boosts Friona Industries to the nation's second-largest cattle feeding entity.

If the current political rhetoric persists then very little change is expected, but an escalation of said rhetoric could be a market mover.

The addition of the two Cattle Empire yards boosts Friona Industries to the nation's second-largest cattle feeding entity.

As technology transforms the meat business, the impacts will resonate throughout the supply chain.

The summer heat helps move meat, especially beef for grilling.

Average beef carcass cutout values in 2018 so far are just slightly higher than a year ago with the comprehensive cutout up just a penny over the first half of 2017 at $2.14/cwt.