Sort & Cull

Although there's a Cattle on Feed report set to be released this Friday, Oct. 23, with feedlot managers actively working to push the market higher and traders willing to support the market in recent weeks, there's a chance that this week's trend could be higher once...

Traders believed there was a chance that last week's fed cash cattle market could trade steady, if not a tick higher, and that's all the support they needed to boldly push the contracts higher on Friday.

The cattle complex continues to chop sideways within its trading range, hoping that robust fundamental support will eventually arise and help break the market out of its current trend.

Between ICE raids disrupting production and Texas and Kansas no longer reporting fed cash cattle prices due to confidentiality, it's no wonder why the market closed lower on Monday as the cattle complex needs to see more support.

Between seeing a record-low number of August placements in Friday's Cattle on Feed report and seeing the fed cash cattle market be able to hold steady, traders wildly pushed the live cattle and feeder cattle contracts higher on Monday.

Regardless of what segment of the market you looked at last week, the cattle complex rallied as futures market charged onward, fed cash cattle prices traded higher and feeder cattle prices did as well.

DTN's weekly average spot price for domestic distillers dried grains is higher versus one week ago.

Thanks to the help of continued trader support, both the live cattle and feeder cattle contracts ended Monday's market higher, although concerns still loom regarding the market's stability.

The cattle complex is accustomed to the long, hot summer days known as the dog days of summer, but added pressure worked the contracts even lower through Monday's trade.

Several factors, including high hay prices, western U.S. drought, the U.S.-Mexico border reopening soon to cattle imports, and more consolidation in the meat-packing sector as Tyson closes two more plants and intends to sell another, means January's Cattle Inventory report may...

If traders are going to successfully move the live cattle and feeder cattle contracts above resistance at the market's 40-day moving average, they're going to need to see strong consumer demand and higher prices in the fed cash cattle market.

Following last week's success in the cattle complex, cattlemen and traders alike are hopeful the market will see continued support this week.

Absorbing all USDA reports and unexpected announcements that have affected the cattle complex since last Friday has been no small task.

Following a two-week period in which the live cattle contracts closed lower, the market secured a higher close on Monday afternoon. But now the question becomes: Is this the bottom for the market's move or does more pressure await?

Without enough fundamental support in the marketplace right now, the cattle complex continues to drift lower.

It's tough telling whether the market's recent softness is just a bobble or if the top is in. Either way, producers don't need to panic as there is still plenty of opportunity in the marketplace.

If you let the news shape your outlook and perspective on life, you're bound to be miserable. Go enjoy the riches of the country, the kindhearted and generous people, and seek the goodness around you.

Thanks to the rally seen in last week's fed cash cattle market, and because of the current support in the equity markets, the cattle contracts rallied through Monday's trade. Join this week's DTN webinar on what factors to watch for moving ahead.

From Superior Livestock's Corn Belt Classic online feeder cattle sale, to the monthly Cattle on Feed report, to the upcoming DTN Beef Industry Exchange webinar, you'll want to block out time for these big-ticket items happening in the next two weeks.

Following last week's whirlwind surrounding the finding of New World screwworm in the U.S., the cattle complex is longing for greater fundamental support to help move the market forward.