10-31-25 – Fed cattle carcass weights are rising, and there are no market signals indicating a downturn, said Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist Mark Johnson, in a newsletter.
One of the most dramatic market signals is the proportion of higher USDA Quality Grade (upper two-thirds choice and prime) carcasses currently in the weekly harvest mix and robust consumer demand for consistently great tasting, higher quality beef, he said. Here are a couple of questions Johnson said he has received.
“Do commercial cow-calf producers need to select for more growth and accordingly increase mature cow size to produce calves that fit the current industry norms?”
Answer: No. Cows currently are producing calves that spend more than 200 days on feed and finish at live weights in excess of 1,500 pounds, Johnson said. As an industry, it appears there is ample growth.
The post weaning growth potential of feeder calves produced in the US is not tethered to weaning weights, he said. This suggests the production environment (forage availability and level of nutrition) is not permitting cows to tap their full milk-production potential, nor calves to tap their full potential for growth to weaning.
Whereas, post weaning production environments (stocker operations and feedyards), ARE permitting calves to tap their full genetic growth potential, which manifests itself in strong postweaning growth, heavier finishing weights and heavier carcass weights than ever.
Given the diversity of US production environments and biological diversity of the cow herd, it is critical that beef cows fit their production environment, Johnson said. The best evidence that a cow is a good fit to her production environment is producing a weaned calf each year.
There is growing evidence that efficiencies and profit potential of commercial cow/calf operations would be better served by focusing selection pressure on other economically important traits and avoiding excessive mature weaning weights, he said. Seldom is the maintenance cost of high-growth cows with excessive mature size offset by the additional calf weight that results.
“How can commercial cow/calf operations responsible for producing calves with superior post weaning growth and end-product merit reap the dividends of superior genetics?”
Answer: Avoid Information Asymmetry when marketing calves, Johnson said. This can be done by documenting the pre-weaning health/vaccination protocol and providing evidence of the post-weaning genetic potential.
It’s a long-term process requiring a combination of: 1) retaining a share of ownership through finishing and collecting evidence of post weaning performance, which can be used in marketing future calf crops, 2) submitting DNA samples or, 3) enrolling calves in a program like Anguslink to receive a Genetic Merit Scorecard.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $236.75 per cwt to $249.43, compared with last week’s range of $237.30 to $243.18 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $373.38 per cwt to $378.93, compared with $368.29 to $381.29.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was down $3.11 per cwt at $378.27 while select was down $2.27 at $359.52. The choice/select spread narrowed to $18.75 from $19.59 with 84 loads of fabricated product and 18 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $404.57 per cwt, and 50% beef was $172.51.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $0.95 to $1.10 a bushel over the Dec corn contract, which settled at $4.30.1/4, down $0.03 3/4.
No new live cattle delivery intentions were tendered Thursday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $352.00 per cwt, down $4.62. This compares with Thursday’s Oct contract settlement of $347.27, down $0.60, and Nov’s $341.82, down $0.25.