Fed Cattle
USDA’s August Cattle on Feed report said July marketings were down 0.7%, July placements up 1.6%, and the number of cattle on feed up 1.6% at the start of August.
The August WASDE predicts this fall will bring our first 15 billion bushel corn harvest and the first 4 billion bushel soybean harvest. This is good news for feeder cattle prices.
Drovers is proud to be hosting Cowboy College on Sept. 7-8, in Dodge City, Kan. The two day meeting will offer an educational opportunity designed specifically for feedlot crews.
In less than a month feedlot cowboys from across the country will be gathering in Dodge City, Kan. to learn about best management practices and animal welfare.
The CME Group announced more changes that include discounting live cattle futures at a delivery location and revising quality grade specifications.
Until the market gains some consistency with what is happening in the country then the futures market is about as risky as playing croquet in the alligator pit.
While marketings were largely in line with the pre-report estimates, June placements were the big surprise, only up 3 percent compared to last year.
USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was pegged at 10.4 million head on July 1, 1% above last year’s total.
Cattle feeders are walking a tight rope as fed cattle prices continue to decline.
Summer brings bullish and bearish news in cattle markets.
The longer cattle continue to trade sideways the more explosive price movement could be.
Although beef, as a by-product of the dairy industry, rarely exhibits a major influence on dairy industry production decisions, it is important to note that dairy animals contribute a significant portion of total animal slaughter and beef supply.
The impact of dairy on beef markets varies over time depending on long term trends and short term market conditions in both beef and dairy markets.
USDA released their June Cattle on Feed report this afternoon. It said there were 2.2% more cattle on feed than on June 1, 2015.
Summer heat waves pose a serious danger to cattle in feedlots.
The effect of shade had no significant effect on body temperature or performance for cattle fed Zilmax or in the control group.
Feeding cost of gain is expected to drop for the remainder of 2016. Small net returns could be on the horizon for cattle finishers. Where are feeder cattle prices headed? Does it pay to retain ownership?
Will prices continue to decline, or will they trade steady or find support between May and October? That is a tough question at this point, but it is hard to imagine further significant declines at this time.
The latest numbers in the Cattle on Feed report were quite surprising, particularly with regard to placements.
More than half a century after its discovery, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) still wages war on cattle health and producers’ livelihoods.
It seems certain that herd expansion has slowed to a snail’s pace compared to one year ago, but from a historical standard, expansion is likely still moving at a fairly rapid clip.
Cattle on feed continues to increase, while drought conditions go away in the Northern and Southern Plains.
Industry experts attribute Australia’s slide in cattle on feed to record breaking prices witnessed in the country.
USDA’s May Cattle on Feed report said there were 1.3% more cattle on feed than a year ago. April placements were up a surprising 7.5% and April marketings were up 1.2%.
Monthly fed cattle net returns have been negative since December 2014. A few months ago, it appeared that we would climb above breakeven this spring. However, that was before the recent drop in fed cattle prices.
Recent changes in beef production have implications for the timing and possibly for total beef production for 2016.
Feeder futures have become increasingly volatile in ways that often appear unrelated to market fundamentals.
Cattle feeders and veterinarians should keep an eye out for E. coli O165:H25, an enterohemorrhagic strain that can cause disease in cattle and potentially poses a food-safety hazard for humans.