With the current above average temperatures, first hollow stem in wheat pastures will likely be here earlier than is usual. So, it’s a good time to look at the benefits and costs of grazing wheat past first hollow stem.
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.
The spring cattle market rally was beginning to bloom this week, with yearling feeder cattle trading firm to $5 higher and instances of $6 to $8 higher.
The price slide between feeder cattle of various weights are settings records in the extreme this year. Producers must analyze costs and breakevens carefully.
Even though calves may have been on a backgrounding program for several months, it doesn't mean they are safe from subsequent health issues later on in the feeding period.
As the nation’s cowherd enters into an expansion, several key factors are at play, says Darrell Peel, ag economist, Oklahoma State University at the 2015 NCBA Cattlemen’s College.
The cash-led bull market continues, with both fed cattle and feeder cattle posting sharp gains. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures also recorded advances, but still trail cash bids.
The Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Cattle Conference will be held July 29 in Wichita Falls, Texas, jointly hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
In the production world, producing beef from grass depends on the development of grazing plans that allow plants to fully utilize their genetics that have evolved for centuries.
Stocker and feeder cattle were called unevenly steady to $3 per cwt. higher for the week, though prices on popular weights leveled off after last week’s rally.
Discussions of genetics typically focus on the cow calf producer, however genetics play just as much of a role in the stocker industry as they do cow/calf.
Stocker cattle operators wishing to explore ideas for making their operations more efficient and profitable will want to attend this year’s Mid-South Stocker Conference Feb. 18-19 in Buchanan, Tenn.