Latest News From BEEF

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Improve, Packer Margins Near Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Improve, Packer Margins Near Triple Digits

Cattle feeding margins have improved significantly the past month, yet losses remain the norm. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies and range-bound wholesale beef prices. Pork inches toward breakeven.

Mackey: Futures Heat Warms Cattle Feeders Resolve
Mackey: Futures Heat Warms Cattle Feeders Resolve

Similar to last year, packers have idled the harvest pace lower in an effort to keep prices in check. The strategy favors more late-week trading.

Six Elite Undergraduates Awarded Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships
Six Elite Undergraduates Awarded Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships

Henry C. Gardiner scholarships have been awarded to elite undergraduates since 2012. This year, 33 applicants competed for six scholarships.

NAFTA flags
Meat Institute Joins Canadian, Mexican Groups to Improve Trade, Reduce Regulatory Barriers

The three groups reveal a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes their ongoing work to improve trade, reduce regulatory barriers and enhance information exchange within North America.

Why Showcasing U.S. Red Meat in Japan Matters Now More Than Ever
Why Showcasing U.S. Red Meat in Japan Matters Now More Than Ever

U.S. red meat made a statement at the Supermarket Trade Show in Japan. USMEF showcased U.S. pork and beef products for key buyers from Japan’s retail sector during one of the country's biggest food events of the year.

Peel: Record Calf Prices and More
Peel: Record Calf Prices and More

The first week in February saw 500-pound steers reach a new all-time record price in Oklahoma, supassing the mark set in November 2014.

New Weekend Dates for Noble Grazing Essentials in Waller, Texas
New Weekend Dates for Noble Grazing Essentials in Waller, Texas

Noble is offering a one-time-only discount in honor of the launch of its 2024 educational series, Noble Grazing Essentials course.

The Simple Economics of Extended Wheat Grazing and Why it’s a Bad Idea
The Simple Economics of Extended Wheat Grazing and Why it’s a Bad Idea

With the current above average temperatures, first hollow stem in wheat pastures will likely be here earlier than is usual. So, it’s a good time to look at the benefits and costs of grazing wheat past first hollow stem.

Despite Mild Winter, Spring May Bring Forage Challenges
Despite Mild Winter, Spring May Bring Forage Challenges

Unusual winter weather conditions have created benefits for some ranchers, but that could change and ranchers should consider whether winter feed supplies are enough to stretch into spring in case of delayed turnout.

Nevil Speer
Speer: Beef Forging Ahead With Consumers

Inflation has hit food prices especially hard, but higher prices haven't driven consumers away from beef. Why is that? The Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Audit provides some clues.

Markets: Winter Rally Sputters, Cash Cattle Lower
Markets: Winter Rally Sputters, Cash Cattle Lower

Cash cattle traded lower in all regions for the first time in more than a month, but futures prices rose Friday to the highest levels in nearly four months.

What Producers Need to Know About Coccidiosis?
What Producers Need to Know About Coccidiosis?

Control of the coccidiosis is based on preventing calves from being exposed to large doses of oocysts and maximizing immune function through good nutrition and minimal stress.

Understanding and Preventing Calf Scours
Understanding and Preventing Calf Scours

Neonatal calf diarrhea, or scours, is a common concern among cow-calf producers. Understanding why scours occurs is the first step in preventing the problem.

Tips for Managing Calving in Muddy Conditions
Tips for Managing Calving in Muddy Conditions

Because of health concerns, it is important to reduce the effects of mud in calving areas. The following are a few management strategies to decrease the risk of health events due to mud during calving season.

From Adversity to Helping Farmers and Ranchers
From Adversity to Helping Farmers and Ranchers

Crop Disaster Recovery specialists help livestock producers and farmers apply for and receive federal and state disaster payments they deserve.

range-cattle-grazing
Unintended Consequences: Managing Anaplasmosis in Cattle

Cattlemen need to be aware of the causes, symptom and prevention steps for anaplasmosis, a bloodborne pathogen that has shown to be more widespread than previously thought.

Dan Kniffen: Beef Quality Audit Continues to Pay Dividends for the Entire Industry
Dan Kniffen: Beef Quality Audit Continues to Pay Dividends for the Entire Industry

The beef industry has significantly improved efficiency across the entire supply chain, and that’s helped control our production costs, which benefits all consumers.

Nevil Speer
Speer: LRP Needs Measured Approach

This is the third in a series on Livestock Risk Protection. The previous two addressed misperceptions of market impact from LRP. The remaining topic – subsidy harvesting – is the most interesting and controversial.

Using Technology to Streamline Work on Diversified Cattle Operations
Using Technology to Streamline Work on Diversified Cattle Operations

Which segments of your operation aren’t serving you anymore? Luke Kovarik shares the realities of operating a diversified operation in this week’s podcast episode.

Q&A With a Veterinarian: Bovine Lameness
Q&A With a Veterinarian: Bovine Lameness

Bovine lameness is one of the costliest animal health issues to the beef industry and it’s also a major animal welfare concern that we can mitigate.

John Deere Expands W200 Windrower Series Lineup
John Deere Expands W200 Windrower Series Lineup

Joh Deere's new high-horsepower windrower model helps improve productivity and efficiency.

How Much Water do Cows Really Need During Cold Weather?
How Much Water do Cows Really Need During Cold Weather?

Dehydration is an added stress for cows in cold weather. Help cows deal with winter stress and maintain their body condition by ensuring they have adequate water.

Breedr App Launches in the U.S.
Breedr App Launches in the U.S.

Combining individual animal data with AI insights generated from millions of cattle, the company provides tailored feedback to help each partner in the chain optimize their own production.

CAB Insider: Quality Grades Diverge
CAB Insider: Quality Grades Diverge

Extreme January weather conditions impacting a large portion of cattle feeding regions have been widely impactful to cattle feeders and the beef supply chain.

Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Erode as Feeders Tread Water
Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Erode as Feeders Tread Water

Improving prices for live cattle helped boost cattle feeding margins to near breakeven, but higher bids pushed beef packer margins deeper into the red. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.

Nevil Speer
Speer: The LRP Horse Is Definitely NOT Dead

Do cattle producers have the narrative correct regarding the impact of LRP? Some assumptions may be completely disconnected. Let’s revisit this still-kicking horse.

Feedlot Cattle Health Summits Scheduled for Scott City, KS, and Kearney, NE
Feedlot Cattle Health Summits Scheduled for Scott City, KS, and Kearney, NE

Production Animal Consultation (PAC) will host two beef industry summits in April, allowing people from the beef industry to gather and exchange ideas.

Antler Madness: Deer Shed Thieves Poach Farmland, Private Property
Antler Madness: Deer Shed Thieves Poach Farmland, Private Property

Lust or greed, trespassers are drawn to farmland by deer sheds. Private property is no barrier to a shed thief.

BT_Calving
When to Assist with Calving

Deciding when to offer assistance for a calving cow is a judgment call and good judgement is the result of experience. Here are tips to help make the determination.

Humane Euthanasia of Cattle
Humane Euthanasia of Cattle

Euthanasia of an animal that is suffering from irreversible disease or injury is a primary responsibility for cattle producers and veterinarians.

Peel: Planned and Impulse Heifer Breeding
Peel: Planned and Impulse Heifer Breeding

Statistically, impulse heifer breeding is about 80 percent more variable than planned heifer breeding. Therefore, impulse heifer breeding plays an important role in the dynamics of cattle cycles.

Mackey: A Good Win for Cattle Feeders
Mackey: A Good Win for Cattle Feeders

Calling the packers’ bluff, cattle feeders held out for higher bids and were rewarded with the highest prices in over three months.

New Methane Digester Complete at Tri-Cross Dairy, Begins Supplying RNG
New Methane Digester Complete at Tri-Cross Dairy, Begins Supplying RNG

Tri-Cross Dairy has recently completed a new renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility with Clean Energy and is expected to supply 1 million gallons of negative carbon-intensity RNG annually.

Getting Implant Application Correct
Getting Implant Application Correct

When used correctly, growth-promoting implants can increase ADG by 20% in growing cattle. With a 100-day feeding period, 48 lbs. more of liveweight could mean $40 to $50 per head more, depending on the price slide

BT_Feedlot_Steers
Markets: Fed Cattle Rally as Cowboys Hold ‘Em

Fed cattle broke through $180 barrier this week, establishing the highest prices since the week ending November 3 and cattle feeders continue to gaining leverage.

John Nalivka
Nalivka: Cattle Numbers Lowest in 73 years - the Glaring Headlines

The beef market has become increasingly dependent on consumer demand – consumers who are both willing and able to continue purchasing beef at higher prices.

BVDV-Resistant Calf Created Through Gene Editing
BVDV-Resistant Calf Created Through Gene Editing

Gene editing has been used experimentally to produce polled calves and calves with lighter-colored haircoats. Now, USDA researchers, have produced a calf with reduced susceptibility to bovine viral diarrhea virus.

NASDA Urges Federal Support for State Meat Inspection Programs
NASDA Urges Federal Support for State Meat Inspection Programs

NASDA members urge Congress to require USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service to provide at least 50% funding match to state departments of agriculture to ensure the viability of state meat and poultry inspection.

NASDA Supports Access to Approved Vaccine Technologies
NASDA Supports Access to Approved Vaccine Technologies

NASDA supports farmers and ranchers’ ability to safeguard animal health through the responsible use of vaccines.

Nevil Speer
Speer: Let's Beat the LRP Horse Again

Yes, another column about the LRP… because it’s an important risk management tool, it’s misunderstood, and…this horse ain’t dead yet.

Profit Tracker: Packers Join Feeders in the Red
Profit Tracker: Packers Join Feeders in the Red

Improving prices for live cattle helped boost cattle feeding margins but the higher bids and lower wholesale beef prices turned packer margins negative. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.

Pork Export Value Sets Record; Strong Finish for Beef Exports
Pork Export Value Sets Record; Strong Finish for Beef Exports

December pork exports climbed nearly 10% from a year ago while December beef exports were the largest since August and December export value increased 10% year-over-year.

2024 Top Producer Of The Year Christine Hamilton: Driven For Excellence
2024 Top Producer Of The Year Christine Hamilton: Driven For Excellence

At Christiansen Land and Cattle, they’re committed to excellence and continuous improvement, a mindset that started when Christine Hamilton’s family homesteaded in South Dakota in 1891.

Society for Range Management Draws Over 1,600 to Annual Meeting
Society for Range Management Draws Over 1,600 to Annual Meeting

“Change on the Range” was the theme for the Society for Range Management’s (SRM) 77th Annual Meeting in Sparks, Nevada last week.

Monitor Cow Condition During Weather Stress
Monitor Cow Condition During Weather Stress

Melting snow has created special challenges for beef cattle producers and monitoring the body condition of gestating cows during times of cold stress becomes critical for calving and rebreeding.

Finding Direction: Advice for Developing a Marketing Program for Crossbred Calves
Finding Direction: Advice for Developing a Marketing Program for Crossbred Calves

This week’s podcast episode highlights the importance of having direction and the impact it has on profitability and the ability of an operation to be passed down from generation to generation.

Identifying The Right Bull for Your Operation
Identifying The Right Bull for Your Operation

Whether you are buying out of a live auction or private treaty it is critical to access your own unique operation in order to determine the attributes your next bull needs to add value to the calf crop he will sire.

Merck Introduces Allflex CleanVax Nozzles and Shields for Intranasal Vaccination
Merck Introduces Allflex CleanVax Nozzles and Shields for Intranasal Vaccination

The CleanVax intranasal vaccination system includes shorter nozzles that are less invasive than conventional cannulas, as well as clear plastic disposable shields that can be replaced between animals.

Nevil Speer
Speer: Data, Facts, And Logic

Inspiration for Speer’s latest column came from a rancher who stopped in the middle of feeding cattle to share his thoughts from inside his tractor.

Tips for Dealing with Wet, Muddy Feedlot Conditions
Tips for Dealing with Wet, Muddy Feedlot Conditions

Following last month's blizzard, warmer temperatures and recent rains have created muddy feedlot conditions that present challenges for cattle and cowboys. Nebraska extension offers these strategies to cope.