For those looking for a singular indication that US cattle herd rebuilding has begun, the USDA’s midyear report isn’t giving then any love. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that the US herd of cattle and calves numbered 94.2 million head, down 1.2 million, or 1.26%, from 95.4 million two years earlier, the … Read More

As if to reinforce the bullish aspects of Friday’s USDA Cattle on Feed report, the USDA Cold Storage report, which was released at the same time, showed total red meat supplies in freezers June 30 were down about 4% from the previous month and down 7% from last year. Total frozen poultry supplies were up … Read More

Continuing a seasonal decline, the number of cattle on feed in Canada on July 1 was fewer than a year earlier and the 2019-2023 average. Monthly feedlot placements in June, however, were up from a year earlier while remaining down from the previous five-year average. The data comes from Canfax, a division of the Canadian … Read More

Fifty percent lean boneless beef prices appear to be topping out their summer peak as 90% boneless beef continues to follow last year’s trend at a higher level. Data from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service that was compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver showed the weekly average price for 50% … Read More

Despite efforts in Mexico to control the northern spread of New World Screwworm, the pest keeps working ever closer to the US border.   GROWING FRUSTRATION   The Texan Tuesday published an article quoting Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in testimony before the Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee Monday saying the current rate of … Read More

In its July Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report, the USDA projected higher feeder cattle prices than it did a month ago. In June, the weighted-average price for feeder steers weighing 750 to 800 pounds at the Oklahoma City National Stockyards was $310.47 per cwt.  The Outlook report said this was a $10 increase from … Read More

Large commodity index firms, better known as managed money, increased their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday as cattle owners increased their total net short position. The data came from the weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday.   FUNDS BUY CATTLE   Tuesday, … Read More