Latest News From Livestock Markets

The climbing cattle inventory and poor feeding conditions this winter are having mixed results on the cattle market.

Trade talk is a big issue for everyone here at the convention and the focus isn’t just on China. For another year, the priority remains the same, the cattle industry vocal they want a free trade deal with Japan.

AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben talked with buyers and sellers at a feeder cattle auction in Northern Indiana. She traveled to Shipshewana, Indiana.

AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben talked with buyers and sellers at a feeder cattle auction in Northern Indiana. She traveled to Shipshewana, Indiana.

The U.S. will see a shift away from El Niño conditions in 2019, Art Douglas said during the 2019 CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show.

This year's Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show got underway Wednesday in New Orleans.

This year's Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show got underway Wednesday in New Orleans.

While the release of USDA reports ceased for a month it does not spell disaster and certainly, the markets continue to roll along in pretty good shape.

New numbers show the number of cattle in the U.S. is continuing to grow, but cattle are still going to market.

Placements of calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 11.7 million head, as of Nov. 1, 2018. The inventory was 3% above the Nov. 1, 2017 report.

Steady money dominated the market for the sixth consecutive week.  However, winds of change are blowing and steady $111 could be coming to an end. 

Value-added programs don’t necessarily add value to a set baseline price. Rather, they begin by removing some of the discount (risk) that buyers assume exist.

Value-added programs don’t necessarily add value to a set baseline price. Rather, they begin by removing some of the discount (risk) that buyers assume exist.

Hedging opportunities for cattle marketed into the beginning of next year are becoming more attractive.

Hedging opportunities for cattle marketed into the beginning of next year are becoming more attractive.

The market proved more positive than feeders anticipated this past week after the bearish Cattle On Feed report coupled with a lower board.

Mounting evidence connects R-CALF and Organization for Competitive Markets With the Humane Society of the United States.

Fed cattle traded steady to $1 higher, supported by gains in CME futures. Feeder cattle were steady to $4 higher.

Feeding margins with red ink will continue into September, but in general the losses are not crippling.

Weather and forage conditions over the next several weeks could have a major impact on female prices this fall.

Despite increased beef production in 2018, up nearly 4% so far this year, beef demand has been quite strong and has limited beef and cattle price pressure in the first half of the year.

Despite increased beef production in 2018, up nearly 4% so far this year, beef demand has been quite strong and has limited beef and cattle price pressure in the first half of the year.

If high beef demand, and steady to high margins continue throughout the summer, the packer will have incentive to continue large kills every week.

Additional cattle are continuing to come to feedyards, but fortunately there’s been several market factors at play to help offset beef supplies, at least for now, said Craig VanDyke, Top Third Ag Marketing.

Additional cattle are continuing to come to feedyards, but fortunately there’s been several market factors at play to help offset beef supplies, at least for now, said Craig VanDyke, Top Third Ag Marketing.

Cash cattle markets were mostly weaker, with CME futures prices lower before turning sharply higher Friday.

Last week’s cattle trade was once again a disappointment to cattle feeders.

U.S. beef cow slaughter increased 10% through mid-April, in part due to herd liquidations stemming from drought in the southern Central Plains.

Trade was spotty at best last week due to lack of total numbers needed by packers for the shorter holiday week.

A record amount of beef is on the way to consumers ahead of the start of summer grilling season.

Drought conditions and wildfires in the southern Plains have erased any ideas of expansion in the region, further pressuring female prices.

Many feeders chose not to sell this week because they did not not want to give in to a softer cash market.  The cattle that traded in the north and south, found the cash market $4 dollars lower at $122. 

Cash trade in the South was robust once again this week, with most cattle bringing $126, and a handful trading early at $125. The trade in the North was steady to a little weaker.

Packers could potentially find it challenging to obtain enough market ready cattle to meet their spring order demands.

Feedyard closeouts revealed profits of $92 per head last week after two weeks of losses.

This week should show us how willing the packers are to pull May contracts.

This week should show us how willing the packers are to pull May contracts.

USDA’s cattle on feed survey data can have inherent problems, but additionally, we don’t really know the feeding performance of cattle in feedlots in the major feeding regions.

USDA’s cattle on feed survey data can have inherent problems, but additionally, we don’t really know the feeding performance of cattle in feedlots in the major feeding regions.

What began as a dismal start in the cash trade early last week, shifted into a more positive direction on Friday.  

Host Chip Flory talks with Christine McCracken, Executive Director, Animal Protein for RaboAgriFinance, who explains additional slaughter capacity in the U.S. should help the hog market continue the price recovery

Gardiner Angus Ranch’s 39th annual spring production sale saw a total of 809 lots sold for a total of $6,004,100, with an average of $7,242.

A midweek rally helped to keep cash prices in the north slightly firmer than those in the south.

The cattle feeders taking advantage of the positive basis, the trend for several weeks now, was again the catalyst for last week’s trade. 

The feeders’ ability to hold steady or gain in the market may not come until mid-April.

Wednesday on AgriTalk ATBl, Don Close from Rabo AgriFinance talked with host Chip Flory about the demand side of the cattle and beef markets. He explained new trends in U.S. dining are helping to support beef demand.

Tuesday on AgriTalk ATB, Scott Varilek from Kooima & Kaemingk Commodities in Sioux Center, Iowa, told host Chip Flory that the structure of the cattle market is providing plenty of incentive to keep marketings current.

Joe Vaclavik, president of Standard Grain, talks to Tyne Morgan about the cattle markets.

Beef demand continues to be steady to higher.

"Beef demand has been good, but it will have to remain robust or else we're going to continue to backlog cattle," Top Third Ag Marketing broker Jeff French said.