Managed money funds continued to liquidate long live cattle positions in the week ended Tuesday, even though futures prices were rising rapidly, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Managed money cut its nets long position to 18,367 contracts in the week, down 9,476, or 34.0%, from 27,843 the previous week.  It marks the ninth … Read More

Conversion rates in Kansas feedlots held about steady over the past two months of data, snubbing a strong seasonal tendency to decline rapidly, as cattle feeders place heavier calves on feed, an extension feedlot specialist said. Chris Reinhardt, Kansas State University economist, said the availability of grass and an economic incentive to keep calves on … Read More

All things being equal, it still pays better for cattle producers and feeders to focus on the genetics that produce prime beef rather than branded programs. That’s not to say branded programs don’t pay, because they do.  It’s just that turning out prime beef pays better over time, if cattle producers are able to accomplish … Read More

Cow/calf producers are in the middle of a herd rebuilding process that likely will span the next few years as calf prices and pasture availability coincide, but there could be problems. Carcass weights jumped during the latest extended drought period as a way to compensate for declining slaughter numbers.  Rising weights have not been able … Read More

Live cattle futures settled sharply higher Monday as the market reacted strongly to Friday’s higher-than-expected cash market, thinking maybe the market had turned higher seasonally. Late profit taking, however, revealed some lingering doubts, and the lack of significant carry in futures contracts into next year shows these doubts are deep seated. Cash prices for fed … Read More

Managed funds continued to liquidate long live cattle positions during the week ended Tuesday amid ideas of waning beef demand. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said in its weekly report published Friday that Managed Money, or large speculative firms cut their net long cattle position by 11,242 contracts, or 28.8%, to 27,843 from 39,085 the … Read More

Currently lofty cow/calf producer profits are expected to experience some weight this year as rising production and competition produce more meat, which will back up product through the production chain. And since cow/calf producers are first in the production line, they have little control over the price they are paid for their calves.  Thus, with … Read More