Latest News From Beef Production

With uncertainty taking over the grain market, it’s a double whammy for livestock producers who are facing higher feed costs, as inflationary pressures may create more headwinds on the demand side in 2022.

Friday's Cattle on Feed was not expected to create any additional near-term market volatility. Yet, a closer analysis finds heavy front-end numbers along with signals the feeder cattle supply is tightening.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict produced another set-back for fed cattle last week. The industry is hoping this week will bring less volatility in the markets.

With revenues and costs rising, cattle producers must adjust cattle production and marketing to maximize profits. 

Cash cattle saw average prices move slightly higher for the week while CME futures tumbled lower. USDA’s reported cattle on feed February 1 inventory was the highest for that month in the series going back to 1996.

Bos indicus cattle lag in their reproductive efficiency, something researchers at Texas A&M are trying to help fix with a recent medical breakthrough.

The strong volumes of fed slaughter suggest the large number of long-fed cattle are being worked through. Tightening supplies are being revealed and demand in the beef market is nothing short of incredible.

Help make your calving season as successful as possible by ensuring adequate colostrum, preventing cold stress and having a calving kit at the ready.

Cattle feeders saw active participation from all packers last week which helped push prices higher for a fourth consecutive week. Prices in the North remain at a premium.

If drought is not a limitation in 2022, will cattle producers continue herd liquidation? The answer will be determined by what cattle producers want to do and can do relative to cow culling and heifer retention.

Cash fed cattle prices traded higher for a fourth-consecutive week, reaching the highest average price since August of 2015.

Cattle prices are improving in all regions as cattle numbers have declined. Expansion and continuation of the current drought could cut cattle numbers even further and produce higher cattle prices.

Cattle price and profitability trends for producers are pointed in the right direction, even as challenges and uncertainty persist with continued disruptions from the pandemic.

Hardware disease can be difficult to conclusively diagnose and clinical signs will vary based on where the hardware has penetrated. The best prevention of hardware disease is good management. 

The slaughter pace last week was the best we’ve seen in 2022, with an estimated Federally Inspected total of 659K. Given the previous week’s disappointing pace due to weather, these are very promising totals.

While livestock’s greenhouse gas emissions are relatively minor in the U. S., methane emissions can be reduced by improving forage quality with the use of cool-season forages and legumes and using rotational grazing.

Randie Culbertson explained IGS technology, challenges with the multi-breed genetic evaluation, and how the technology works for seedstock and commercial producers during the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium.

Grassroots Carbon has provided payment to 10 Texas ranchers for their adoption of reversative grazing pastures which have resulted in nature-based, measured, verified and certified carbon credits.

Thanks to above average rainfall across much of North Dakota last fall there is potential for cattle producers to see average forage production in 2022.

Cattle feeders in the South saw three packers aggressively buying large numbers of cattle last week. Packers in the North continued to push hard to buy cattle in the eastern side of the region.

There is considerable variation in the mineral composition of small grain forages, depending on management, growth conditions, and soil mineral content.

Cotton production is estimated at 18.3 million bales for 2021, a 25% increase from the 2020 crop year, according to USDA. That means whole cottonseed supply is estimated to be about 1 million tons more than 2021.

Considering the production factors of the past two years, it’s logical to consider that advances in carcass quality, or higher marbling scores, will be less likely to develop in 2022 than in the previous two years.

When we break sustainability down to the operational goal of optimizing resources, we realize increased productivity per cow and optimum stocking rate per acre are the actual problems we need to address. 

How can feedlot inventories be above year ago levels if the calf crop has declined the past three years?  The usual flow of feeder cattle over time would suggest that feedlot inventories should have peaked in 2020.

The cash market finally saw some life last week.  Packers seemed to be in more need for cattle and finally were in a position to have to raise bids to get cattle bought. 

Regardless of the market examined, "uncertainty" is an accurate descriptive term. U.S. equities are unsettled despite a promised interest rate hike and that spills over to cattle and beef.

More than 70% of the country is still covered in drought. And while the latest winter storm was packed with needed moisture for some areas, it didn't blanket every area needing moisture to restore depleted soils.

USDA's cattle inventory report confirmed contraction is taking place in the U.S. As economists weigh in on what the latest numbers may mean, one veteran economist thinks cattle prices could remain strong through Q4.

Winter Storm Landon is on its way, expected to spread a big mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Rockies to the Plains, Midwest and parts of the Northeast. Don't forget to pay attention to your barn roofs.

Cattle feeders saw nothing new in the live cattle trade last week as packers continued to be on limited head counts once again. 

January nears its end with the fed cattle market still searching for the legs to carry it higher. Early month prices have proven to be a tease and the short-term outlook doesn't appear bullish.

South Carolina’s Republican congressional delegation asked the Department of Fish and Wildlife to authorize a depredation order that allows black vultures to be killed under certain circumstances.

University of Missouri associate professor Jared Decker explains the importance of utilizing hair shedding EPDs to increase animal adaptability.

The 2022 North Dakota Reclamation Conference, “Investing in Effective Reclamation,” will focus on reclamation practices and technology to improve reclamation success.

An early season barometer of rancher optimism and demand for high-quality bulls, Gardiner Angus Ranch's 5th Annual "Early Bird" bull sale was held on Monday.

In an effort to connect farmers, ranchers, and land managers to current, useful range management resources, the Society for Range Management (SRM) launched Good Grazing Makes Cent$ (GGMC).

Cattle feeders in all regions saw participation by all packers in last week’s market, with prices mostly steady with the previous week.

Unexpectedly large December feedlot placements pushed feedyard inventories higher year-over-year, while marketings were in-line with pre-report estimates. Placements of lightweight cattle were nearly 10% higher.

When harsh winter conditions are in the forecast, avoid being caught off-guard and consider these ways to manage your cows, calves, and bulls to help them weather the storm.

Seedstock and commercial cattle producers enrolled a record 756 head of Hereford and Hereford-influenced steers in the American Hereford Association’s (AHA) 2022 feedout programs.

Calving during daylight means calves are born during times of warmer temperatures, cows calving are easier to find and provide assistance if needed and accordingly, more calves saved and alive. 

Iowa State University research seeks alternatives for saturated animal fats that retain the original products’ desirable qualities of taste, texture and appearance and offer more choices to health-conscious consumers.

Absenteeism at major packing plants due to coronavirus has again helped create a backlog of market-ready fed cattle. Packers used that fact to push fed cattle prices lower last week.

Labor issues continue to plague the packing industry with this week’s slaughter volume lighter than anticipated. Worker absenteeism due to COVID has hindered packers’ ability to run full throttle and prices suffered.

Breakdowns in the global supply chain are hitting home for U.S. livestock producers and the veterinarians who serve them, in the form of shortages of commonly used medications.

New research shows that improved management practices can help create a climate-friendly beef system.

Dry conditions in the West have plagued producers for months. And while some recent relief has come in the form of rain, a new USDA report shows just how dire the hay situation is for many livestock producers.

Understanding the stages of calving is critical in order to know when/if we need to provide assistance during calving season to increase the likelihood a live calf is born and off to a good start.

During the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium last June, Bruce Golden explained how beef producers can improve their sales through situational indexes.