The Livestock Marketing Information Center has projected a sharp dip in US second-quarter commercial beef production with a surge in the third quarter. Upon reflection, that should be no surprise as the packing industry gets its employee illness issues resolved and works to catch up with the backlog of slaughter-ready cattle waiting in the feedlots. … Read More

Cattle producers have many challenges working through the disruptions from COVID-19, but it looks like the overall feed situation will provide more flexibility for feeder and feedlots, said Derrell Peel Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in a letter to Extension agents called Cow/Calf Corner. However, emerging potential drought conditions are a threat and … Read More

Even with record-high wholesale beef prices, meat buyers in April continued to favor USDA prime-graded beef over branded, USDA choice, USDA select or ungraded product. Whether that means it pays to feed cattle to their full genetic grading potential or not is something individual cattle feeders will have to determine for themselves, a market analyst … Read More

Large commodity index firms, known as managed money, extended their collective net long live cattle position during the week ended Tuesday but maintained a net position that is very close to even. That conclusion was drawn from the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Managed money’s new net long … Read More

5-15-20 – Fed cattle slaughter picked up the last two weeks, but it remains below what feedlots need to keep up with the number of head coming due for their date with the packer, trade sources said. It likely will take many weeks for slaughter rates to catch up with the growing backlog of fed … Read More

Kansas feedlot sales of fed cattle to packing plants rose in March, following, and remaining above, the 2014-2018 average trend. The data comes from a monthly survey of selected, representative feedlots by the Kansas State University Extension Service.  This data is then extrapolated to represent the state as a whole, compiled and distributed by the … Read More

The USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Tuesday reduced its estimate of 2020 total red meat and poultry production from last month as the sector adjusts to COVID-19 and economic uncertainty. However, the World Agricultural Outlook Board’s report said total US red meat and poultry production for 2021 was projected to be greater … Read More