Fed Cattle
What number of beef processors would resolve producer concerns about “lack of competition?” Should meat processing be different than other industries?
Today’s weekly slaughter is much more robust than in 2015 and cattle supplies are at least adequate for the short term. Yet fed cattle numbers will certainly tighten as we move into 2023 due to the shrinking cow herd.
Global demand for U.S. beef has been robust in 2022, providing increased value for both cattle producers and processors that export beef.
Packers push harvest pace higher and continue to seek higher grading cattle as they look to keep the holiday rib pipeline full.
Packers were successful in filling their needs at steady money this week as wholesale beef prices moved lower. Feedyards were content to reduce showlists but remaining cattle are priced higher.
Want to make producers better off? Squishy facts, alarmist narratives and politicians won’t get it done. Instead, the path to prosperity follows real data, critical thinking, and free enterprise.
Beef exports have made a strong showing in 2022, but September data shows the second decrease in volume over the past 30 months.
Packer desires to purchase higher quality cattle gave northern feeders the advantage last week with the North-South spread at $2 to $3.
Robust beef demand continues with retailers expecting the strongest sales this holiday season since before the pandemic. Strength on the demand side continues to pull cash cattle prices higher.
The nation’s fifth-largest beef packer will receive a grant from USDA that will help add 700 head to its daily harvest capacity.
What happens when we assign the “Monty Hall Problem” to our decision-making process for the beef industry? The difference being we know what’s behind each door, but will we choose correctly?
Cattle feeders refused some early bids last week and were rewarded with higher prices in all areas, resulting in another opportunity to clean up show lists.
Rapidly rising wholesale beef prices kept packers actively looking to add inventory this week. Choice boxed beef closed Friday $16.64 per cwt. higher than two weeks ago.
Last week’s cash market topped $150! It’s a timely opportunity to review the need for regulatory intervention into the cash market (i.e. the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022).
Cattle feeders held out for higher money last week and the result was the highest cash prices in seven years. The week’s harvest of 673,000 head was the third largest of the year.
USDA reported the first year-over-year decrease in feedlot inventories since December 2021, but the decline came from steer numbers as heifers on feed were up 1.4%.
Cash cattle trade was called active with packers seeking to add inventory. Retailer buying was also active as they anticipate a seasonal slowdown in supplies.
Beef packers would like to own more cattle but they’re afraid showing their hand will only raise asking prices. Moderate trade occurred in all regions at slightly higher money.
Cattle feeders have slowly gained market leverage over the past few weeks as cattle numbers tighten. Packers grudgingly bid higher money for cattle on the High Plains and the Corn Belt this week.
August beef exports were slightly above last year’s large volume and topped $1 billion in value for the seventh time in eight months this year.
Following beef quality grade trends may not be as exciting as college football, but for beef marketers quality grade is the game and this season is nothing short of dynamic.
Feeding a calf is an investment. Consider these breed, weight, health and carcass qualities when selecting the animal to get started on the right foot and economically fill the freezer!
The North American Meat Institute answered questions asked of meat and poultry industry companies by House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott during a hearing on beef and cattle markets.
Amidst all the recent concerns about the economy, inflation and consumer sentiment, beef demand and pricing power has remained incredibly resilient.
Active trading in the North and the South provided steady prices while CME futures and wholesale beef prices moved lower for the week.
Even a 10% reduction in U.S. beef exports and imports would cause a significant disruption to prices and quantities of both feeder cattle and fed cattle, according to a new economic analysis.
Proposed new beef processors face multiple challenges in launching their new ventures, but Sustainable Beef, LLC and Producer Owned Beef believe their new models make them attractive to both cowboys and retailers.
Pennchlor® and Rumensin® approved for use together giving beef producers more options to improve the sustainability and efficiency of their business.
The September 2022 Cattle on Feed report pegged inventory up 0.5 percent from August, indicating that August was the low point for this year.
Cash cattle sold higher in active trading ahead of the September Cattle on Feed report which saw slightly higher inventories but within the range of trade expectations.