US livestock producers may be looking at an economic “mini-boom” for the next several years as long as feed costs remain comparatively low. Chris Hurt, agricultural economist at Purdue University, said the current record-high prices being received for livestock combined with low feed costs present an environment for herd growth.  He also credited rising per … Read More

The polar vortex hammering the US this week with subzero temperatures and heavy snow and ice likely will reduce fed cattle slaughter weights and affect beef production in the short term, but the effect may escape national annual statistics as the effect likely will be short-lived. Cattle feeders usually keep cattle an extra week or … Read More

The average days on feed for steers in Kansas feedlots is increasing, a counter-seasonal move that saw September closeouts averaging 20 days more than the five-year average.  Days on feed for heifers have followed the same general trend. Kansas State University analysis shows that since May, the average number of days steers spent on feed … Read More

Managed money liquidated live cattle long positions during the latest reporting week and now holds its lowest net long position since the week ended Tuesday, Sep. 9. In its latest weekly disaggregated Commitments of Traders report, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said that as of the week ended Tuesday, managed money held a net long … Read More

Feed prices for livestock producers are rising, and charts indicate they have a definite bullish bias. Weekly corn, sorghum, winter wheat and soybean meal prices bottomed the first week of October in spite of a record fall harvest.  Fall crop prices appear to have put that all behind them while winter wheat is less certain … Read More

Boxed beef cutout value is struggling to rise to a level that will provide packer buyers with a profitable margin while feeding margins hold steady. Although packer margins improved two weeks ago, they still are calculated at a minus $75.31 per head.  The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker said that margin was up from a minus … Read More

Demand for ground beef is rising as evidenced by flat wholesale prices for 90% beef trimmings and increasing cow slaughter and prices. USDA data show the average weekly price for fresh 90% lean beef trimmings last week at $296.01 per cwt, virtually identical to the $296.05 from the previous week. However, total cow slaughter rose … Read More