Fed Cattle
Cattle markets reversed a month-long lower trend with decent gains in all regions, a strong indication retail buying for the Labor Day holiday has begun.
Beef exports in June 15.2% higher while beef imports were down 15.3%. Strong exports are helping offset domestic demand struggles as beef imports decreased in the face of higher cow slaughter and lean beef production.
Sudden deaths late in the feeding phase are both frustrating and expensive. Simplot Land & Livestock says its research suggests genetic selection can greatly reduce the incidence of bovine congestive heart failure.
Cattle feeders continue to fight for shackle space as cash price continue slumping toward a summer low.
When buying a 4-H steer or other beef animal from a local producer, how much beef can you expect after processing? Check out these tips to calculate how much meat one beef animal will return.
A New Mexico jury rules in favor of a cattle producer in a contract dispute with Tyson Fresh Meats, ordering the packer to pay millions in actual and punitive damages.
There was never enough need by any packer to push the market but could be a sign they may be getting shorter on committed cattle. Regional packers seem to have cooled down in the North.
Feedyard sales continue to slide lower though marketings are seen as current. Drought is forcing ranchers to trim their herds but cull cow prices are holding firm.
Current data on beef cow slaughter, combined with historical price performance of cattle markets after reaching an inventory low point, provides some insight for cattle price trends for the second half of 2022 and 2023.
Based on the data, it’s impossible to establish any meaningful link between beef imports and the packer and fed cattle prices.
None of the smaller beef export markets account for more than 1.5% of the total, but many small markets are growing and contributing to a more robust set of export markets for U.S. beef.
America’s largest food distributor has filed suit in Texas alleging the Big 4 packing companies conspired to fix prices since 2015.
Packers regained much of their leverage last week and prices inched lower. Feeders will struggle to hold prices at a similar level this week.
Fed cattle prices weakened slightly following the long holiday weekend, but prices for feeder cattle and calves continue a contra-seasonal advance. Beef demand remains at a high level.
Exactly how continuing drought, reduced forage production and high feed prices will impact cattle and beef markets in the coming months remains uncertain.
Fundamentals for fed cattle are steadily at odds so far this summer with very “green” fed cattle in the northern tier of the feeding region. Feeders are pushing show lists to take advantage of the summer high.
Sen. Chuck Grassley sees his “years-long beef with Big Cattle” soon to be settled. The policy he touts is meant to normalize packer margins, but the market’s swinging pendulum is doing that without government intrusion.
Dean and Jared Lerwick plan to re-open the former Packerland facility located in the Nebraska panhandle to harvest 40 head of local cattle per day.
Western Legacy Development Corporation’s proposed large packing plant has Rapid City, S.D., residents and city officials seeking more details on how the project may impact the region. Meeting set for Thursday in Wall.
It will take much of the remainder of the year for feedlots to work through the current inventory and we can’t be sure what additional impacts the drought may have in the coming months.
Prices in the North continued to trade premium to the South while wholesale beef prices inched lower for the week. USDA’s cattle on feed report looks positive for next week’s markets.
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced two bills aimed at making cattle markets more transparent and competitive, with Sen. Chuck Grassley declaring his “years-long beef with Big Cattle” close to being settled.
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association president says the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act needs support from ranchers to get the legislation across the finish line.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says her administration is working to help Kansas cattle feeders who experienced death losses due to the mid-June heat wave.
Packers in the Northern region remain short on cattle which helped boost the price for a second consecutive week.
Active cash cattle trade in the northern feeding region led to a $4 to $5 rally this week even as an early season heat wave gripped the plains states.
Consumer concerns with inflation are quite real and retail beef values closed out the first quarter 15% higher than last year. Even so, the end user beef market has gained a widening appreciation for Prime beef.
With the extreme heat in cattle feeding areas there have been reports of death losses.
Cash fed cattle prices turned higher late week with Kansas trading Friday morning and were rewarded for their patience.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service raised its forecast for total U.S. red meat and poultry production in its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) on Friday.