The ratio of steers to heifers populating US feedlots can give some perspective on how cow/calf producers see profit prospects down the road. And with the October release of the USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, comes an update of the steer to heifer ratio in feedlots.  These figures come quarterly and help estimate the number … Read More

As microbial resistance to antibiotics grows into an ever-expanding problem for doctors and veterinarians, Lux Research has identified some solutions that fall into three main categories, the company said in a research paper. There is no silver bullet that will replace conventional antibiotics, Lux said, and alternatives will act primarily as preventative strategies that will … Read More

Large commodity investment firms, called managed money, liquidated long live cattle futures positions in the week ended Tuesday, while cattle owners covered short positions aggressively. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday gave the data that showed both categories of traders made opposite moves for the third straight week.   FUNDS … Read More

Total red meat supplies in US freezers on Sep. 30, were 968.392 million pounds, up 7.141 million, or 0.74%, from 961.251 million Aug. 31 but down 146.714 million, or 13.2%, from 1.115 billion last year, the USDA said in its monthly Cold Storage report Thursday. Total frozen poultry supplies on Sep. 30 came to 1.401 … Read More

Canada’s cattle feedlot population rose a bit as of Oct. 1 from a month earlier, right on schedule seasonally and holding at more than a year earlier and the previous five-year average for Oct. 1. Canada’s Cattle on Feed report is generated by CanFax, a private market advisory group with data from feedlots in Alberta … Read More

When beef cutout values are plotted on a graph, it becomes clear that the real money for packers is in the upper end of USDA quality grades. Beef packers have to deal with select and lower grades of beef, but when it comes to banking a profit, they get more out of prime, choice and … Read More

Weekly federally inspected dressed steer weights show signs of topping as the difference between this year, last year and the 2014-2018 average continue to narrow. Dressed heifer weights continue to climb and show fewer signs of topping, but the differences between this year, last year and the previous five-year average are narrowing more rapidly than … Read More