Sort & Cull

With beef cow processing as rapid as it was through 2022, I don't think it's out of line to anticipate that the January 2023 beef cow herd could be below 29 million head, which happened in 2014 and is the record low for the industry.

As of Jan. 1, 2023, there were 4.65 million head of heifers and heifer calves in feedlots across the U.S., which is 25,000 head fewer than a year ago.

In years past, one has been able to look at the spread in the April live cattle contract compared to the price of the June live cattle contract and see that it correlates to the price difference between feeder steers and heifers. Will that trend hold true in this year's...

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) earlier this month mailed the 2022 Census of Agriculture paper questionnaires to producers around the country. They also have sent out codes for producers to fill out the information online as well. The deadline to respond...

If processing speeds mimic the pace kept in 2015 where close to 542,000 head were processed each week, one must wonder if that will be a vigorous enough processing rate to keep the market current.

Monday morning I was on a phone call and the question was asked, "with windchills expected to be around 55 degrees below zero in parts of cow country this week, how do cattlemen ensure a profit in those type of treacherous conditions?" And truth be told, on weeks like that...

The biggest question I have after analyzing Friday's WASDE report is whether or not the projections for the cash cattle sector will remain true. The long-term resistance at $160 is an immense barrier to break through, and the market has been unable to power above it.

We know that prices are expected to be higher for both feeder cattle and fat cattle in 2023, as the industry simply doesn't have as many cattle as in years past. But with the onset of higher inputs, and higher interest rates, will the higher profits be enough to ensure a...

We knew that last week's negotiated cash cattle market was a good one when prices jumped higher, but on Monday we could see how the market got even sweeter.

On Friday, the tide finally turned as total cattle on feed numbers were lighter than a year ago, and during the year's biggest placement month there were 6% fewer feeders placed in October 2022 than a year ago, which is consequently also the smallest number placed during the...

It may be infuriating to see cash cattle prices chop sideways when it's possible the market could have traded higher, but if feedlots could simply trade cattle for the nearby delivery, as opposed to committing them to the deferred delivery, that would help the market...

Last week's cash cattle market may have traded mixed, but it completely missed the mark and ultimately let precious market-share pass it by.

Some buyers showed the feeder cattle market more interest than others last week, but with feed prices continuing to be volatile and expensive, finding a breakeven equation is tough, let alone a profit for feedlots.

Bleach-marking cows is an easy and convenient way for ranchers to mark which cows need to go to town; but when it's also used as a tool against them when it's time to sell, producers may need to rethink how they mark their cull cows.

The battle between what's developing and transpiring within the cattle market -- and what's developing and transpiring throughout our economy -- will rage on for some time. Nevertheless, the market will continue to be a balancing act, weighing two components -- the cattle...

Unfortunately, I have some experience with needlestick injuries. Anyone who has worked with livestock probably has a similar story.

With close to a million fewer feeder cattle outside feedlots when compared to a year ago, simple supply and demand concepts would argue that feeder cattle prices should be trending higher, but with volatility laced throughout the marketplace, finding a sound breakeven on...

We know that the Fed has promised higher interest rates as a cause-and-effect scenario to tame the nation's uncontrolled inflation, but could it be possible that the market has carved out its low for the time being?

Different generations of farmers and ranchers have different ways of doing things. But instead of letting those differences be polarizing, the industry would be better off to lean into rich mentorship, which benefits all parties involved.

With feedlots able to keep cash cattle prices steady to $1 up last week, there's a strong chance that prices trade higher again this week as packers need to procure cattle to avoid becoming short bought.