Cattle Market Reports and Analysis
Fundamental supply and demand have taken control of spot fed cattle values over April Live Cattle futures lows.
Check out the Sterling Marketing’s Profit Tracker ending the week of May 3.
Check out the Sterling Marketing Profit Tracker for the week ending April 26.
Check out the Beef Profit Tracker for week of April 19.
The fed cattle market was sharply higher last week with a $4.29/cwt. upward move.
Check out the Sterling Marketing Beef Profit Tracker ending April 12.
The 2025 fed cattle harvest has run very close to a year ago with the full production weeks averaging 473,000 head, a 1,600-head increase over the same period last year.
Check out Sterling Marketing’s Beef Profit Tracker for week ending April 5.
Check out the Sterling Marketing Beef Profit Tracker ending March 29.
Last week’s fed cattle trade was highlighted by sales late Friday that featured substantially higher prices as packer demand for spot market cattle pressed prices higher in all regions.
The Sterling Marketing Beef Profit Tracker shows current breakeven price in the $170s/cwt compares to $200/cwt for currently placed cattle.
Check out the Sterling Marketing’s Profit Tracker ending for week of March 14.
Total beef cattle harvest last week was up 12,000 head from the prior week at 578,000 head, 6,000 head fewer than the same week last year.
Feedlot margins jumped from $198 to $366. Choice steers were up slightly to $201.
Shrinking cattle inventories in recent years leads to a wide range of impacts on the multi-sectored cattle industry.
Total beef cattle harvest last week was slightly larger than the prior week at 563,000 head, an increase of 2,000 head.
USDA’s latest Cattle Inventory report showed U.S. beef cattle numbers fell to the lowest level in 64 years to start the year. Tight supplies and strong demand could push cattle prices to even higher highs in 2025, but uncertainty is infusing more risk and volatility into the markets.
With the prospects for tight cattle numbers over the next 2 to 3 years, the importance of consumer demand will be critical.
Tight cattle supplies will remain the primary driver in the new year and weather will have a significant impact on feed and forage availability, and cattle marketing patterns.
Cattle harvest was down last week, but carcass weights remain record breaking. Q4 tends to be the period most prone to follow historical seasonal patterns for carcass cutout prices.
Heifers made up 39.7 percent of the total feedlot inventory on Oct. 1, up slightly from the 39.6 percent in July.
Harvested fed steer and heifer head counts outpaced the same weeks in 2023, with 501K and 492K in the past two weeks.
Annual five-state beef conference hosted by beef extension teams from Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Futures markets have always been a source of consternation. The reason for angst generally falls on the speculators, but that blame is often misplaced.
Changes in trade will result in relatively minor market adjustments but will not change the level or trajectory of U.S. cattle prices.
Cash prices in the North surged higher on active trade volumes while the South posted modest gains on light to moderate volume. Feeder cattle and calf prices were mixed.
Packers reluctant bidders as futures remain significantly discounted to cash. Feedyards content with standoff late in the week.
Cash cattle prices trade higher for a fifth consecutive week and on feed inventories continue to shrink seasonally. Cattle on feed numbers matched pre-report estimates.
Wholesale beef prices staged an impressive rally this week, leading the cash and futures markets higher. Packers’ marketing leverage remains elusive.
Carcass marbling has benefitted from extra days on feed and heavier carcass weights resulting from current market conditions. Thus, the beef from fed cattle is historically quality-rich for this time of the year.