Beef Production
Lower grain prices last week helped boost prices for feeder cattle and calves at most auctions across the country. AMS reporters expect grain prices will continue to be a major factor in cattle prices going forward.
Federal regulators shut off irrigation water to farmers along the California-Oregon border last week from a critical reservoir and said they would not send extra water to dying salmon downstream.
Cattle feeders in the South region continued to see a lack of negotiated cash trade due to an abundance of market ready cattle.
USDA reports pasture and range conditions from May-October and the initial reports this year show U.S. pasture conditions are the worst ever for May back to 1995 with 44% of pastures in poor to very poor condition.
Cash fed cattle traded at modestly higher prices this week in light to moderate volumes. Wholesale beef prices continued pushing higher, and cattle futures prices fizzled with Thursday’s losses.
When commodity feed prices become high, cattle producers should consider options for getting more out of their livestock feeds. Using other methods to get more nutrients out of the feed is now cost effective.
A sacrifice area is an area where animals stay at times when pasture grazing is detrimental to land and plants. This area can be in a dry lot pen or a fenced-off area of the pasture.
A new study claims U.S. agriculture, in particular animal agriculture, is a major source of air pollution. NCBA’s Ethan Lane says the misleading nature of this study contributes to the false narrative around animal ag.
A critical component of cow herd health is a breeding herd vaccination strategy. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all vaccination plan.
Summer pneumonia is respiratory disease/pneumonia that occurs in beef calves nursing their dams. The age range of calves affected can be as early as 3 to 4 weeks and from 3 to 5 months of age.
While demand proved strong for all bulls in Gardiner Angus Ranch’s 6th Annual “Meating Demand” sale, the 14- to 17-month-old bulls drew the highest bids, averaging $7,139 on 61 lots.
Expanding drought across the Central Plains becomes increasingly evident in cattle markets. Stocker and feeder cattle sold lower last week, even as demand for grazing cattle was called good in parts of the NC region.
Many independent feeders are finding themselves fighting the same issues this year as they faced last year, yet feed costs are more than double what the were last year.
With the increased costs of beef production (especially feed and fertilizer) technologies that improve the efficiency of production are increasingly valuable.
The northern Plains has experienced severe drought since 2020, with alfalfa plants stressed due to a shortage of water. The lack of snow cover and temperatures below 0 F in February likely caused alfalfa winter-kill.
The cyclical expansion in cattle numbers from 2014 to 2019 has now pushed cattle slaughter beyond packing industry capacity. It is estimated that annual average slaughter has exceeded capacity since 2016.
By the time a rancher recognizes they have a “trich” problem, significant economic loss has already occurred. An effective way to prevent loss is to implement biosecurity measures to prevent disease introduction.
Parasite control remains economically important, but strategies are evolving.
Following BQA guidelines is a commitment to consumers by producers for a quality product. It also ensures the safety, health, and welfare of both the processing team and cattle.
The Pirbright Institute is tackling three deadly livestock viruses: porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and African swine fever virus in pigs and bovine respiratory syncytial virus in cattle.
Managing infectious diseases in cattle involves all aspects of the cow-calf system. A systems approach includes matching genetic selection to resources, nutrition, reducing stress and the use of vaccine protocols.
The highly diversified 10,343-acre Zeman Ranch near Bassett in north central Nebraska is listed for sale. The current owners have operated as Promiseland Livestock for over 20 years.
When was the last time you considered a subtractive approach? Not just cutting feed or input costs but an enterprise evaluation to ensure your time is optimized.
Drought conditions across much Nebraska has ranchers considering options for reducing stocking rates on pasture this spring and summer: supplement/substitute feed; ship cattle to non-drought areas and sell cattle.
Beef may be in high demand but cattle prices struggle to hold steady. Fed cattle slipped $1 to $2 lower last week and auction prices for feeder cattle fell $1 to $5 lower, AMS reporters said.
Care in how large, round bales are stored outside can minimize losses.
Ample supplies of fed cattle continue to hang over the market as feedlots struggle to get more current. Beef packers have very large margins and appear to be trying to push kills in the face of limited capacity.
Last week only two days of harvest were considered cash trade. This lack of cash trade should give a clear indication that the corporate or “turn in” cattle are influencing the quick decline in the market.
As with loading out, trailer loading is another production event that can be high stress on both the animals and people, but it needn’t be that way.
An online survey found the value of dung beetles and earthworms is high to cattle producers as more than half of respondents identify earthworms and dung beetles as having economic benefits to cattle operations.