US pork exports topped year-ago totals for the second straight month in September, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation, the USMEF said in a release. September beef exports were less than last year for the first time in 2022, but exports remained on a record pace … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, took on more live cattle futures positions during the week ended Tuesday while hedgers decreased their total short position, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   FUNDS GO LONG CATTLE   As of Tuesday, managed money had a … Read More

The number of fed cattle sold to beef packers from the “average” Kansas feedlot in September took an uncharacteristically large tumble, dropping to the lowest monthly total of the year so far, according to data collected by the Kansas State University Extension service. The data is collected each month from select feedlots around the state, … Read More

The 12-month moving average of feedlot inventories decreased this month for the first time since October 2021, suggesting temporary influences like drought may have run their course, which will lead to decreasing feedlot totals and reduced marketings going forward, said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, in a letter to Extension agents … Read More

Weekly female beef cow slaughter approached 750,000 head more than a year ago last week, said the Livestock Marketing Information Center in a letter to Extension agents called Livestock Monitor.   HEIFER KILL UP   Total heifer slaughter through the week ended Oct. 1 was 364,000 head more than last year, while beef cow slaughter … Read More

Cash fed cattle prices last week were up a couple of dollars per cwt on a live basis as packer buyers searched for enough choice-grading carcasses to fill their orders, a market analyst said. Feedlot showlists are thinning, especially for the kind of cattle the buyer wants.  This is giving the seller more leverage in … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, went big in live cattle futures during the week ended Tuesday while hedgers extended their total net short position, according to the weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday.   FUNDS GET MUCH LONGER CATTLE   The COT report lists the collective … Read More