Considerable variation exists among heifers in their ability to gain weight on moderate-quality forage, and this variation appears largely independent of performance on energy-dense diets, said David Lalman and Bailey Tomson, Oklahoma State University professors of animal and food sciences, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. Simple measurements of forage-based weight gain, or well-designed development … Read More

Beef production last year declined along with pork, but beef was the leader, as total pork production was very close to the 2019-2023 average. In fact, weekly beef production last year remained less than the five-year average in all but two weeks.  Pork production, though, tended to vacillate all around the weekly production lines of … Read More

Farmer sentiment weakened slightly in December as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index dropped just three points to a reading of 136, said Michael Langemeier and James Mintert, Purdue University agricultural economists, in a report. The December barometer survey took place from Dec. 1-5.   EXPECTATIONS DOWN   Weakness in the barometer was … Read More

Beef prices have become the federal poster child for high food prices and concerns about consumer affordability, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner. Much political attention resulted last year, focused on high beef prices as part of broader inflationary concerns among numerous food items – … Read More

For the third straight week, large commodity index funds, or managed money, raised their collective net long live cattle futures position as cattle traders boosted their total net short position. The data is for the week ended Tuesday, Dec. 23, as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, catches up with its weekly Commitments of Traders reports.  … Read More

As 2025 wraps up, there still is little indication of significant heifer retention by cow/calf operators for herd rebuilding, although some retention may be beginning slowly, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock market specialist, in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner.   SMALLEST BEEF REPLACEMENT INVENTORY EVER   The July USDA Cattle (Inventory) report … Read More

As the year winds down, the weekly average difference between wholesale prices for USDA choice and select grades of beef is narrowing, reaching its smallest spread for 2025 in the last full week of the year. And the outlook is for even more narrowing of the choice/select spread in the first couple of months in … Read More