Latest News From Fed Cattle

Beef imports are up, while exports have fallen.

A study examining the presence of salmonella in beef cattle feedyards was the focus of a series of studies by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists and faculty in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University, College Station.

Live cattle prices were up $2 to $3 from the previous week.

A much needed price rally helped cattle feeders erase a lot of red ink last week

The unemployment rate has dropped, a sign the economy might grow.

Increased rainfall has improved forage for grazing and limited the amount of lighter weight cattle going on feed.

Beef packer profit margins continued to grow last week as the beef cutout jumped nearly $5 per cwt. and cash fed cattle prices declined another $2 per cwt.

Cattle prices fall while beef prices teeter-totter.

Freezer beef levels drop from previous month while cattle on feed sees a slight increase.

Normal may not apply to agriculture markets.

It was good to be a beef packer last week.

Cattle prices fall, while beef prices improve.

Grilling season tends to bring on high beef prices, and this May was record breaker.

Cattle do not handle heat stress as well as humans.

All alternatives have advantages and disadvantages, and making the right choices can favorably help an operation’s bottom line. That’s why Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach completely revised the Beef Feedlot Systems Manual.

It was a devastating week for cattle feeders. Margins dropped with a thud – another $107 per head – with total average losses now at $270 per animal.

Health, risk management and at look at how the market winds are blowing are on the agenda for the Aug. 1, Ozark Feeder Cattle Conference.

Cattle feeding margins dropped another $45 per head last week, totaling average losses of $163 for every animal that walked on the truck. That’s the result of a $4.37 per cwt. decline in the 5-area direct cash price which registered $154.93 per cwt., well below the average breakeven price of $167.53.

Fewer heifers entering the feedyard means more calves could be coming...in several years.

U.S. beef exports were down 3.6% in April.

Kansas State University in cooperation with Merck Animal Health recognized Roy Browning of Deseret Cattle Feeders as the recipient of the “Top Hand” award at the 2015 K-State Cattle Feeders College held May 14 in Scott City, Kansas.

A $6 per head decline in cattle feeding margins is tolerable, unless you were already losing $112.

​Cattle and beef trade both softer.

Moisture in the central plains has slowed corn planting, but it has helped pastures.

The official start of the summer grilling season launched with a thud. Beef demand remains good, but the expected bump from Memorial Day weekend was doused by heavy rains and beef’s high retail price in comparison to pork and poultry.

Last week saw dramatic improvement in cattle feeding margins, yet triple-digit losses remain.

Feedlot placements and marketings slide, while the WTO rules against COOL for a fourth time.

Cattle prices are up from last week, but aren't as strong as earlier prices this year.

The May WASDE gave its first forecast of 2016 beef production and prices.

Cattle markets held steady to stronger as the seasonal bump in demand from Memorial Day, Father’s Day and 4th of July lies ahead.

Cattle feeders added a little powder and lipstick to closeouts this week, but the ugly continues to shine through.

The price war between feedlot operators and packers looks to continue​.

Cattle feeding margins were unchanged from the previous week, which means the train wreck continues. Despite modest gains in the cash market, cattle feeders lost an average of $206 per head, just $1 better than the previous week.

USDA's April cattle on feed report said the number of steers on feed was up 5.4% at the start of April while the number of heifers in large feedlots was down 10.1%.

The only one way to find out if your fall 2014 calf crop really is outstanding, regarding quality and feedlot performance, is to retain ownership all the way to the packing plant.

Beef and cattle prices both fall.

Cattle feeding margins took another tumble last week after a $1 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices.

The April Cattle on Feed report said placements into large feedlots during March were up 0.4% and marketings were down 1.7% compared to March 2014.

Cattle market fundamentals may remain favorable, but April’s expected rally has fizzled. Both feeder and fed cattle traded significantly lower this week, with cash fed cattle prices now $9 lower than just three weeks ago.

Change is inevitable, but what will the future hold for feedlot production?

Cattle traders were mildly surprised by USDA’s April cattle on feed report as both placements and the total on feed numbers came in higher than expected.

Cattle feeding margins took another turn south last week after a nearly $4 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices.

Hamburger demand has kept lean beef prices up, it has also kept cull cow and bull prices on the increase.

The average price of fresh beef in grocery stores was a record $6.079 per pound during March. That was up 6.2 cents from the previous record set the month before.

Beef cutout prices trended about $2.80 per cwt. higher to $256.37, and packer margins improved more than $26 per head, resulting in losses of $15 on every animal processed.

As the heat of spring and summer come grilling season looks to increase beef demand and prices.

Beef imports are up, while exports of beef are down.

The spring cattle rally stalled this week as cowboys and packers search for signs supporting ideas the market will conform to seasonal trends.

The pain eased somewhat for cattle feeders last week, but losses remain more than $97 per head.

The Red Angus Association of America and Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. have released new enhancements to the Choice+ performance-based grid, designed exclusively to pay premiums for cattle enrolled in the FCCP.