US cow/calf producers are likely to continue expanding their herds, even though returns are beginning to decline because grass availability and condition continue to improve. US pastures and ranges are in better condition this year than they were last year and are in far better condition than the 2010-2014 average, according to the USDA’s weekly … Read More

Managed money, a term for large investment funds, reduced its net long live cattle position during the week ended Tuesday for the second straight week as commercial traders increased their net short position slightly. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday reported that for its latest reporting week ended Tuesday, that managed money cut its net … Read More

Jun live cattle futures Thursday shot higher, extending gains from Wednesday’s sharp rally as technical buying points were triggered, but fundamental support is thin, and the rally may not last. Such technical rallies have a way of running out of gas quickly, and the fundamentals that started this week’s rally may be thwarted by hedge … Read More

Contrary to average trends, choice wholesale beef prices are not likely to move slowly and unevenly higher for the rest of the year.  There is too much production coming and too much competition from other meats for that to happen. Some market analysts have said beef prices were near an annual low, and if beef … Read More

It appears that US feedlots are working down their unusually large inventory of heavy fed cattle. The latest USDA Cattle-On-Feed report showed cattle placed on feed still are biased toward the heavy side so average slaughter weights in coming months likely will be heavier than normal, according to USDA data. But cattle slaughter is up … Read More

Many long-term students of retail meat and poultry prices and consumption feel that pork does not compete with beef at the retail counter as well as chicken. That seems like heresy to some, but many analysts swear it’s true, so it pays to take a look at the feathered version of the meat counter now … Read More

Managed money, a term for large investment funds, reduced their net long position in live cattle futures during the week ended Tuesday, taking it to its lowest since the week ended March 1. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday reported that for the week, managed money reduced its net long live cattle position to 23,537 … Read More