CattleFax’s Holden Ramey says grass plus profitability equals more cattle — but ongoing drought and volatility are slowing herd rebuilding despite strong price signals.
Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says some of the recovery is technical in nature as the June live cattle bounce off of key support and the 38% retracement level around $243.00 last Thursday. However, there are also fundamental reasons for bounce.
Oklahoma State’s Peel says as U.S. cow slaughter hits historic lows, the industry is turning to international markets to fill a massive “lean deficit” and keep up with record-high consumer demand for ground beef.
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says $243 was the line in the sand for the June live cattle or funds would liquidate and it held after Brooke Rollins canceled her trip to Arizona which alleviated fears of a border reopening.
Joe Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek says live cattle futures held key support on Friday and are higher Monday but can the market retest the record highs?
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle plunged late week after contract highs due to fears of the border reopening to Mexican imports.
A 75-year low in U.S. inventory and restricted Mexican imports are tightening supplies. As grilling season nears, strong demand and record cash trades continue to propel the market despite geopolitical tensions.
Live cattle futures made new and all-time contract highs on Friday with the April contract closing above $250.
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle market has been impressive and resilient.
Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the live cattle futures are chasing sharply higher cash trade from last week.
Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the rally late last week was impressive considering the equity markets were sharply lower on Thursday and Friday plus crude oil was higher.
Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the ability of the cattle market to divorce itself from the outside markets the last two sessions has been very impressive.
Cattle futures are higher early following the big rally in the equity markets says Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek.
Joe Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle and hogs are struggling Thursday with the set back in the equity markets.
Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says there were a couple of reasons the market ignored the strike and the biggest was the higher equity markets and lower crude oil
Cattle futures are higher early Friday in tandem with the bounce in the equity markets and the pull back in crude oil and the energy markets according Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek.
With beef cow slaughter down 20% and cull bulls breaking the $200/cwt. barrier, record-heavy steer weights are fueling a surge in demand for lean beef to blend for the spring grilling season.
Cattle futures are sharply lower on Monday with feeder cattle touching limit down at one point on economic uncertainty according to Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek.
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the uncertainty of the war in Iran has caused some reallocation of money this week.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says the grain and cattle futures are reacting negatively to the uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict.
CattleFax has opened its 2025 Cow-Calf Survey for beef producers to benchmark profitability and industry trends. Participants can win one of three $700 vouchers by completing the survey by March 31.
Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the USDA Cattle on Feed report was providing some support. The on feed number came in at 98% of a year ago, placements were at 95% which was below trade estimates and marketings were at 87%.
The beef industry has evolved and consequently, so are the drivers to the industry’s economics.
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle market is also awaiting cash direction.
University of Arkansas’ James Mitchell explains the cost of price risk in 2026 could be no different than last fall.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are getting overbought and ran into another layer of chart resistance Wednesday but higher cash could push the market to new highs.
CattleFax’s Patrick Linnell predicts a slow, cautious rebuild as aging producers, labor shortages and volatility reshape expansion decisions.
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says the cattle futures have been chopping back and forth this week and need to take out last week’s highs on the charts to break out and to new highs.
Live and feeder cattle futures were higher early Monday extending gains after Friday’s higher cash trade says Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek.
He thinks cash could be higher again this week.
He thinks cash could be higher again this week.