Despite declining corn costs, feedlot breakeven prices are expected to remain lofty, presenting a profitability challenge to cattle feeders for months or years to come.  Currently declining corn prices likely won’t be enough to offset rising feeder cattle costs. Feeding costs per hundred pounds of gain are well below last year but remain slightly above … Read More

Besides painting a bearish picture for grains and soybeans, this month’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report pointed to increased total 2014 meat and poultry production. Increased feed production, and the lower prices that are expected to result, encourage producers to raise cattle, hogs and chickens to heavier weights, resulting in more meat production. … Read More

As fed cattle prices in the Plains slip away from record highs, prices for several weight ranges of feeder cattle continue to mark new tops. In general, feeder steers weighing 400 to 600 pounds are in demand by feedlots while the heavier weights, those weighing 700 to 800 pounds, fade from popularity. USDA figures of … Read More

Managed money got back into live cattle in a big way during the latest reporting week, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitment Of Traders Report. The net long position of managed money rose 14,327 contracts, or 14.0%, to 116,714 from 102,387 in the week ended Tuesday.  At the same time, the net … Read More

Cash cattle prices this week are lower as the market works in a seasonal top, even though longer-term projections indicate fall prices could work to new record highs. Live cattle in the Plains Thursday traded at $161 per cwt in Texas, down $2 from last week, and there were rumors of even lower trades later … Read More

Russia’s announced ban on fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and dairy products from nations imposing sanctions on Moscow for its support of pro-Russian rebels in Crimea and eastern Ukraine will harm the economies of affected nations, most notably Europe, but leaders say it’s worth the price. After tightening the sanctions screws a little more after … Read More

If cattle slaughter rises in the short term as many expect, the kill may still remain below last year and the five-year average, even if it reaches its highest weekly rate for 2014. USDA data show estimated total weekly slaughter last week at 574,000 head.  This is 0.53% more than the previous weekly kill of … Read More