Latest News From Stocker

Packers came into the week bidding aggressively and the result was another week of record-high prices.

If there are any lessons that can be learned from the past few years of sparse rainfall it’s that recovering from drought requires proper management.

Cash fed cattle prices eclipsed last week’s all-time record by posting gains of $3 to $4 per hundredweight this week.

Cattle on Feed placements are lower, prices steady to higher; while increases in cow slaughter means the breeding herd is still contracting.

Merck Animal Heath will suspend sales of Zilmax in the U.S. and Canada, while the beta-agnostic feed additive is under additional scientific audit after Tyson issued a ban on purchasing Zilmax-fed cattle.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association comments on Merck Animal Health's response to Tyson's ban of Zilmax-fed cattle.

Friday's cattle on feed report was a bit bearish as placements were higher than pre-release trade estimates and marketings were lower.

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources today advanced the Grazing Improvement Act to improve the livestock grazing permitting processes on managed lands.

Winter wheat could still present good grain opportunities for farmers, experts say, but a lack of moisture has stressed pastures.

Drought conditions have had a significant effect on feeder cattle supplies.

Research looks at the impact stocker nutrition and management strategies have on marbling.

Backgrounding may seem simple, but it has its challenges.

More than 1.113 million cattle were shipped out of Texas last year because of the historic drought.

But opportunities abound for stocker operators and backgrounders.

This is the lowest January 1 inventory of all cattle and calves since the 88.1 million on hand in 1952.

Cattle feeders will keep looking for heavier weight cattle to place into feedyards.

Cattle-Exchange.com is a new website from Beef Today that's connecting cattle buyers and sellers.

Some feeders holding out for higher prices, which could make feedyard showlists longer next week.

Drought in Oklahoma and Texas is forcing more cattle on feed, and that will impact inventory numbers in January.

The old rule of thumb that feeder prices trade inversely to corn price does not necessarily hold true in today’s markets.

Global macroeconomic factors weigh heavily on cattle feeders’ bullishness, while the short cattle supply is not forgotten by bears.

Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch is a new website from the National Drought Mitigation Center to help livestock producers develop drought plans.

This is the third highest August 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

While 26% of the beef herd resides in severe drought areas, states in good shape are trying to help those in drought areas.

Cattle feeding margins continue to deteriorate in the near term.

The quantity of beef available to consumers has declined in recent years, unfortunately that trend is going to continue.

But projected breakevens for live cattle do not appear favorable. 

A commercial rancher has switched from a pounds-only philosophy to one that includes quality.

Last week's corn price decline helped bring down break-evens for cattle feeders, but feeder prices remain strong.

The cattle feeder's cost of gain will increase approximately $0.04/lb from corn basis alone.

There is little research on tornadoes impacting beef production, but there are several concerns that should be addressed.

Price volatility in the corn, fed and feeder cattle markets can provide opportunity to manage risk exposure.

Price activity was beneficial for those in the feeder cattle market, but for cattle feeders the dilemma of placing cattle below breakeven continues.

Cattle producers in drought and wildfire areas already have to face some tough decisions.

But drought conditions in some regions are dampening demand for stocker weight cattle.

Producers may find additional opportunities to market their calves if they background them before selling them.

As fall approaches and temperatures decrease, it’s time to think about weaning calves or filling pens with purchased calves. Young, light, freshly weaned calves also bring a unique set of health management challenges to the lot.

Steve Kay, of Cattle Buyer''s Weekly, says today's reports can be regarded as slighly positive.

Congress and regulatory oversight agencies have held hearings to examine the role of speculation in commodity markets.