The cash cattle market has been on fire lately. But with a holiday-shortened week coming up and the futures up against resistance pressure, feedlots may not see as much interest from packers...
ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst
ShayLe Stewart is the newest member of the DTN analysis team (September 2019), and comes with deep roots in the beef industry.
Based in the high mountain cattle country near Cody, Wyoming, Stewart leads coverage in all areas of livestock and meat production, and brings a true boots-on-the-ground perspective to a livestock marketing world that gets increasingly difficult to navigate.
ShayLe grew up on a cow-calf and haying operation in south-central Montana, where her passion for the beef industry led her to Colorado State University, ultimately to an internship with the United States Cattlemen's Association. Her experiences following markets for USCA were the springboard for her self-produced Cattle Market News website and Facebook outlets. Those weekly reports were a reliable source of compressed, easy-to-understand, digestible market information.
While her background is in the ranching West, ShayLe comes with a solid list of market contacts from around the country. Talking each week to sale barn owners, feed lot managers, and other industry experts, she is able to ask the questions that cattlemen need answered in order to find clarity in a complex and dynamic market.
ShayLe and her husband, Jimmy, run a registered herd of Sim-Angus females, and host an annual bull sale in Powell, Wyoming.
Recent Blogs by Author
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If only the market was as simple as supply and demand, consumers, and the cattle needed to produce the beef those consumers desire; wouldn't that be the day? Unfortunately, that's not how...
More From This Author
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USDA Cattle on Feed Report Preview
With placements in Friday's May 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report anticipated to range anywhere from 96.2% to 108.5%, traders will likely remain on edge until the data is released.
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Call the Market
With drought affecting much of the U.S. beef cow herd, it is likely Friday's Cattle on Feed report will show an increase in feedlot placements.
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Sort and Cull
The cash cattle market has been on fire lately. But with a holiday-shortened week coming up and the futures up against resistance pressure, feedlots may not see as much interest from packers...
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Call the Market
Drought continues to be a growing concern, and within just six weeks, the market will begin to see the first big feeder cattle sales for the 2026 calf crop.
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Sort and Cull
Last week's fed cash cattle market scored new highs in both the Northern and Southern regions. However, after last week's rally, traders seem on edge about the week ahead.
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Call the Market
Historically, the U.S. beef cow herd has moved on two main factors -- profitability and the availability of green grass. Thus far through 2026, prices have remained historically high, but right now, drought is an issue.
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Sort and Cull
With the board trading sharply higher and the year's strongest beef demand month just days away, will fed cash cattle prices trade higher this week?
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Call the Market
Historically the U.S. beef cowherd has moved on two main factors -- profitability and the availability of green grass. Thus far through 2026, prices have remained historically high, but right now, drought is an issue.
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Sort and Cull
It's too early to say whether the spring high is in for the fed cash cattle market. However, if support doesn't develop from both a fundamental and technical sense, it's going to be difficult for the market to trade much higher.
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USDA Cattle on Feed Report Preview
USDA's April 1 Cattle on Feed report due out on Friday is expected to be mostly bullish for the cattle complex if pre-report estimates prove correct.
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Sort and Cull
With supplies of lean beef extremely thin, last week, choice cuts were cheaper on average than select cuts.
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Call the Market
The recent rally in the cattle complex has hopefully opened everyone's eyes to the importance of monitoring the market so that when an opportunity arises to profitably market your calves, you're ready and able to do so.
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Sort and Cull
After trading lower over the last month, the cattle complex seems to have regained its bullish attitude.
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Call the Market
Whether it be boxed beef prices, showlists, or cash cattle prices, the reduction in throughput gravely affects the live cattle complex.
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Sort and Cull
Both the live cattle and feeder cattle contracts were able to close higher Monday afternoon, but with choppy boxed beef prices, historically slow throughput, and cash prices yet to be determined, the week still has some challenges...
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USDA Cattle on Feed Report Preview
Given the wide range of pre-report estimates, Friday's March 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report could potentially bear some challenging news for the market, according to DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart.
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Sort and Cull
Despite wildfires engulfing Nebraska and the JBS meatpacking plant shutting down amid a union labor strike in Colorado, the cattle complex was able to hold its composure throughout Monday's trade and end the day higher.
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Call the Market
Whether it be the war in Iran or the looming plant strike in Greeley, Colorado, the market knows the negative stressors weighing against it. Discussing the ripple effect of those stressors is essential as their long-term...
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Sort and Cull
The notion of a looming strike does not bode well for the cattle complex as fear and uncertainty unravel both the market's fundamental and technical components.
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Sort and Cull
Between the conflicts in the Middle East to the unknown details regarding a potential strike at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado, the cattle complex is under some unforeseen pressure.