Beef Production
Packers have reduced harvest and employed other tactics in an effort to regain positive margins. Pork producer margins took another step higher as lean carcass prices advance.
Heat stress is caused by a combination of environmental factors including temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, air movement and precipitation.
When evaluating whether to harvest a field for silage or grain, the issue of how to price and value the corn is often a point of uncertainty and is subject to variability.
A new study measured feed efficiency data for yearling Brahman bulls and to determine the relationship of these efficiency groupings to growth, feedlot performance, carcass traits, and tenderness of Brahman steers.
Vitamin A is critical to cattle health and is generally consumed in adequate quantities. But Vitamin A in stored feedstuffs declines over time with exposure to sunlight and high temperatures.
The most recent USDA cattle inventory reports reveal herd numbers continue to shrink, the 2023 mid-year beef cow inventory the lowest in the data set dating back to 1973. Feeder supplies will likely shrink through 2024.
Cattle feeders focused on helping cattle where they could through last week’s extreme heat and humidity. Packers looked to work the market lower, but relatively few cattle changed hands as cattle feeders held firm.
Cattle feeders held firm to higher asking prices and packers continued to wave lower bids with only a few cattle trading hands. Leverage remains in the feeder’s hand as packers must begin filling Labor Day orders soon.
The first dual-active endectocide for the U.S. has been approved for use, starting August 1, in beef cattle 2 months of age and older and in replacement dairy heifers less than 20 months of age.
Knowledge of water requirements of cattle is necessary when designing water supply systems where the water supply may be limited or the delivery system restricts access in times of heavy use.
For 2024, USDA projects that food price inflation will be lower than that seen in 2023 and significantly lower than the rise seen in 2022.
In the second quarter of 2023, national average carcass quality grades held up especially well considering that carcass weights were 15 to 20 lb. lighter than a year ago in the first quarter.
The Ducheneaux family reconnects consumers with their food source
Jack Keating noticed a need for an easier way to build cross-fences. This problem led Jack to start Corral Technologies, a virtual fencing company that changes the way producers manage rotational grazing strategies.
The spread between cattle feeding margins and beef packer margins has now reached $500 per head as packing losses increase. Pork producer margins are the highest of the year.
Choosing fly control products to fit your operation is important, but proper facilities management and product rotation and application are even more crucial for effectively controlling fly populations.
The discovery of the longhorned tick, already responsible the loss of millions of dollars in revenue to livestock producers worldwide, indicates a potential looming problem for cattle health in mid-Missouri.
The sharp increase in feeder cattle prices this year represents a growing market incentive for the beef cattle industry to transition from liquidation to expansion, but it does not appear the industry is responding yet.
Cattle feeders continued to leverage tight supplies of market-ready cattle to push markets higher until packers were forced to be more aggressive.
Packers and cattle feeders spent the week in a standoff ahead of USDA’s dual July reports that were bullish as expected, suggesting a 3% decline in cattle inventories and a 2% decline in cattle on feed inventories.
“Most farms don’t have the time, capabilities, perspectives, resources or desire to do all the tasks it takes to run an operation,” says Steve Kluemper, AgriStrategies LLC founder. “A lot of growers hire to fill gaps.”
Beef cows and total mid-year inventory down 3%. Cattle on Feed July 1 totaled 11.2 million head, down 2% from July 2022.
Matt and Lisa Moreland hoped at least one of their sons would return home to farm after college. What they didn’t anticipate? All three sons wanted to come back. Here are four things the family learned in the process.
Missouri researcher Jared Decker used the commercial genomic prediction tool Zoetis GeneMax Advantage to investigate the ability of the test to predict the performance and profitability of a group of Angus calves.
There’s a $400 spread between cattle feeding margins and packer margins – now in the cowboy’s favor. Cattle harvest is lower as packers reduce hours, a signal their margins are in the red.
Using data and precision technology is the new norm in many segments of the agriculture industry. In the beef industry, Neogen’s Igenity Feeder DNA test is paving the way to a new era in cattle feeding.
Creep grazing has potential to be a cost-effective way to produce additional calf gains using forage rather than the traditional grain-based creep diets.
July’s cattle inventory report will show continued declines to the beef cow herd. While beef cow slaughter is down thus far, the current pace suggests a herd culling rate over 12 percent for the year.
Generally, a good week for agriculture with cattle steady to stronger despite a significant rally in the corn market. Packers try to hide their hand, but without inventory they must pay up to keep plants running.
Still unclear about the recent changes to over-the-counter antibiotics or beef promoting implants? Dan Thompson, DVM, host of Doc Talk TV, shares details about the new livestock antibiotic and implant regulations.