Despite record-high calf prices, lower input costs potentially open the door for profitable winter grazing, a University extension agricultural economist says. John Riley, at Mississippi State University said in a study that if the cost of gain were 70 cents a pound, and if (Alabama) No. 1, 412-pound calf prices stay at $2.84 a pound, … Read More
Data Imply Rising Beef Quality With Zilmax Removal
Every week over the last year, the percentage of choice grading beef carcasses has increased over the previous year, and the change can be tied to the removal of Zilmax from the diets of feeder cattle. Zilmax, an FDA-approved growth promotant manufactured and sold by Merck Animal Health, was removed from the market a year … Read More
K-State Confirms Decline In Feedlot Marketings
A monthly Kansas State University survey of the state’s feedlots Monday confirmed what traders and USDA reports have said – that sales of fed cattle to packers are declining but that weights are rising. What the other reports don’t say, however, is that declining marketings are seasonal. It’s just that the slide in sales is … Read More
Managed Money Trims Long Cattle Positions
Managed money tentatively cut its net long positions in live cattle futures during the week ended Tuesday as producers covered short positions, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission reported in its weekly Commitments Of Traders report Friday. During the latest reporting week managed money, or large speculators, trimmed their net long position to 109,936 contracts from … Read More
Feeder Cattle Sometimes “Pencil Out”
As the price of feeder cattle climbs and the price of fed cattle softens, it’s hard to imagine how the calves will break even for those planning to put them on feed, but there are times when they do. Feeder steers and heifers at the Oklahoma City Stockyards Monday were steady to $3.00 per cwt … Read More
Cash Cattle Trade Inactive As Buyers Wait
Cash cattle trading this week has yet to commence as packer buyers wait in the wings and cattle owners seek steady to higher prices. The USDA has reported minimal trade in the western Corn Belt at about $2 per cwt below last week’s prices in the same area, and while the earliest action in any … Read More
Rising Dressed Weights Indicate Feedlots Backing Up
Rising fed steer dressed weights indicate cattle are being backed up at the feedlots, a response to market forces that could haunt cattle feeders in coming weeks or months. Market sources said the number of cattle slaughtered in August was more than 150,000 head fewer than was needed to keep feedlots from backing up potentially … Read More