Wholesale cow beef cutout values have dropped sharply since mid-September as prices for fed beef failed to live up to expectations and feedlot losses reached epic proportions. Prices for cow beef held very steady this year at around $230 per cwt, but began to fall away in early July.  A graph shows that prices crossed … Read More

At least one agricultural economist says cattle market fundamentals this year haven’t changed nearly as much as the current volatility would suggest and that a change to general prosperity is a matter of changing market psychology. However, predicting that market change is almost impossible, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist in … Read More

Large speculators, or managed money, increased their net long live cattle positions during the week ended Tuesday, even though futures prices were plummeting. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday for the week ended Tuesday, said managed money’s net long cattle position was 12,310 contracts, an increase of 3,954, … Read More

While some cattle market analysts are saying the downside price risk for fed cattle is diminishing, there is little in the market to recommend a near-term rally. Wholesale meat supplies remain burdensome; the market still favors feeding cattle to gargantuan sizes; any holiday buying by retail grocers or restaurants seems to be left to a … Read More

The USDA is cutting back on its forecasts for total meat production this year and next as industries reduce slaughter rates and feedlot placements. The USDA made its new forecasts known Wednesday in its December World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. The USDA’s total red meat production estimate for this year was reduced 123 … Read More

The price relationship of choice beef over select likely is about to turn south within the next two weeks as seasonal demand begins its winter decline. Last week, the spread between the choice and select USDA carcass cutout value was placed at $11.26 per cwt, up from $10.63 the week before but below last year’s … Read More

As feedlots struggle with record losses on unhedged cattle, there is a candle at the end of the tunnel as some analysts foresee lower feed costs next year. By some calculations, current feedlot losses are estimated at more than $500 a head.  But relief may come their way slowly as feeder cattle prices already are … Read More