Cash cattle prices slipped lower throughout the week as packer demand was called moderate. Grain markets posted a significant rally on the heels of USDA's report on Tuesday.
Numerous factors are in place that will shape cattle markets for at least the first few months of 2021. The COVID pandemic will continue to limit food service and restaurant demand for beef.
The American Gelbvieh Association named Loren Fischer, Nevada, MO, as its 2020 Commercial Producer of the Year. Loren and his wife, Marcy, along with their five children, own and operate Fischer Cattle Company.
Average feedyard closeouts saw modest profits for cattle last week as cash prices improved. Hog finishing margins declined from near breakeven to a loss of $6 per head.
A set of Raramuri Criollo crossbred calves grazing winter wheat pasture in New Mexico are part of a nearly $9 million USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant.
Body condition scoring is an easy trait to record and is strongly correlated to cow productivity. But don’t overlook the value of body condition scoring your cattle multiple times throughout the year.
All packers were active players in all regions in the days leading up to the Christmas weekend and prices rallied $2 per cwt. accordingly. Feeders reported good clean-up throughout the region.
To expect large, heavy-milking cows to be in moderate body condition at calving and maintain condition through breeding, they must receive more feed than smaller lighter-milking cows.
