Fed Cattle
In an exclusive Drovers commentary, the president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute says despite popular arguments, America’s cattle and beef industries are better without government intervention.
The month of March will continue to bring more cooler cleanings on the packer’s part. This will continue to keep the number of cattle needed by the packer to minimum.
The pilot program marks a win for the U.S. cattle industry as it equips producers with the market data they need to make informed business decisions and work to capture more value for producing the highest quality beef.
In a rebuttal to accusations of being an “ally” to big packers over federal mandates for minimum cash trades for live cattle, Steve Cornett pleads not guilty and offers additional arguments for consideration.
Self-interests of large packers has led to exploitation of independent cattlemen on one side of the supply chain and consumers on the other, says Bill Bullard. He believes Senate Bill 949 is the “packers’ kryptonite.”
Higher grain prices raise the question of how cattle should be finished. A recent grass vs. grain discussion included the performance and economic perspectives but added an environmental evaluation.
Wheat and corn prices continued to find fuel this week from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but cattle markets were in retreat. The Russia/Ukraine conflict will continue to play a role in markets moving forward.
Are speculators in CME Live cattle futures markets dominating price movement, adding to volatility and uncertainty? Nevil Speer examines the data to provide perspective.
In the fifth installment of a series exploring cattle market reforms, Steve Cornett conducts a Q&A with Brad Kooima, a commodity broker and independent cattle feeder in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Highlighting sustainability in the beef industry and how it can be demonstrated and proven through existing current practices and a focus on record keeping.
Quality grades set record highs for combined Choice and Prime carcasses during the first five weeks of 2022, slightly higher than last year. Prime grades are down marginally from year-ago at 10% vs. 10.8% last year.
Friday’s Cattle on Feed was not expected to create any additional near-term market volatility. Yet, a closer analysis finds heavy front-end numbers along with signals the feeder cattle supply is tightening.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict produced another set-back for fed cattle last week. The industry is hoping this week will bring less volatility in the markets.
Cash cattle saw average prices move slightly higher for the week while CME futures tumbled lower. USDA’s reported cattle on feed February 1 inventory was the highest for that month in the series going back to 1996.
Taking a detour into how stewardship and sustainability play a role in the future of cattle marketing, Steve Cornett offers the fourth installment of a who-knows-how-many series on proposals to reform cattle markets.
USDA announced the availability of up to $215 million in grants and resources as part of a continued effort to strengthen the meat and poultry processing sector and create a more resilient food supply chain.
Cattle markets were hit hard Thursday on news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Higher grain prices drove feeder cattle prices as much as $5 lower on CME feeder cattle futures and more than $2 lower for CME Live cattle.
The increased use of alternative marketing arrangements has allowed feedlots to spend less effort and energy on guessing the market – and more work dedicated to consistent throughput, Nevil Speer says.
The USDA January 1 cow herd inventory, published this Monday, confirmed a 2% decline in the beef cow herd, along with a 1% decline in feeder cattle supplies.
SenseHub Feedlot offers those who manage and care for cattle an innovative new approach to detecting illness, including bovine respiratory disease.
January nears its end with the fed cattle market still searching for the legs to carry it higher. Early month prices have proven to be a tease and the short-term outlook doesn’t appear bullish.
AFBF is the only producer trade association in D.C. that supports some form of mandatory minimum cash fed cattle trade in order to increase price discovery. But it may not necessarily be the silver bullet many want.
The week before a holiday is not usually ideal for pushing the market higher, but last week proved to be just the right combination to support a rally.
Cattle prices are higher now compared to last year and are expected to continue improving in 2022. Live and Feeder futures have priced in considerable optimism for 2022.
The highest fed cattle prices since the spring of 2019 has feedyard managers searching for additional gains this week. Calf prices at auction last week traded uneven.
Last week cattle feeders found themselves in an environment they had not seen since August of 2019. Four packers were in the market competing for the cattle that were available on the list.
The fourth-quarter seasonal price pattern over five years has seen a 12% increase from September through year end. Weekly carryover must shrink before packers see a supply incentive to move bids significantly higher.
Market-ready cattle numbers decline with little affect on prices, signaling supplies remain ample compared to slaughter capacity. Cattle on feed numbers were lower versus year-ago for the first time in 16 months.
Cash fed cattle prices were called mostly steady while packer demand was called moderate. Feeder cattle and calf markets traded higher.
Cattle trade was light in all regions this week with prices steady to higher. USDA’s cattle on feed report put inventories up slightly with placements down 7% from last year, at the low-end of the pre-report estimates.