Latest News From BEEF

It’s Been a Quiet Week in Grocery Store Meat Departments Across the U.S.
It’s Been a Quiet Week in Grocery Store Meat Departments Across the U.S.

It was a seasonally quiet week in grocery store meat departments and up the distribution chain for turkeys and hams, reports Steiner Consulting Group in the Daily Livestock Report. Here’s a look at pork, turkey and beef.

Pros and Cons of Using Darts to Treat Cattle
Pros and Cons of Using Darts to Treat Cattle

Remote drug delivery devices to treat cattle are increasingly popular among producers, especially for use with cattle on pasture. Many veterinarians, however, continue to question whether such tools warrant use at all.

Tyson CEO Confesses Company Culture Was Lazy After Pandemic
Tyson CEO Confesses Company Culture Was Lazy After Pandemic

"We got fat and lazy," Tyson Foods Inc.’s leader candidly shared about his company’s underperformance in an interview following the opening of Tyson's new $300 million plant in Virginia, Bloomberg reported.

How Does Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence Animal Performance?
How Does Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence Animal Performance?

Low-stress cattle handling methods have been discussed and promoted for many years, but could implementing low-stress handling techniques influence animal performance and improve your bottom line?

Tufts University Makes Students' Cellular Ag Dreams Come True
Tufts University Makes Students' Cellular Ag Dreams Come True

In his Value Creation in Cell Ag class, Tufts senior Adham Ali was tasked to work with a group of peers to design a product using cellular agriculture (or cell ag for short) to make life easier for consumers.

Protein Supplementation: What to Know Before Purchasing
Protein Supplementation: What to Know Before Purchasing

In developing a protein supplementation strategy, it is important to consider what is the goal of feeding the protein supplement and that not all protein sources are equal.

Meat, Dairy Experts Advance Climate, Food Security Solutions at COP28
Meat, Dairy Experts Advance Climate, Food Security Solutions at COP28

The Meat Institute and the Protein PACT will highlight animal agriculture’s commitments and progress toward global goals at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai Nov. 30 through Dec. 12. 

Vaccination Cattle Vet
Optimize Cattle Health: A Producer's Guide To Vaccine Handling And Storage

Even experienced producers can inadvertently overlook crucial principles during the preparation and administration of vaccines and other animal health products. Here's a few considerations to note.

Attorneys Challenge Court Decision Dismissing Tyson Workers' COVID-19 Lawsuits
Attorneys Challenge Court Decision Dismissing Tyson Workers' COVID-19 Lawsuits

Lawyers representing the estates of Tyson workers who succumbed to COVID-19 complications during the 2020 pandemic are urging a reevaluation of a court decision that dismissed their legal actions.

Overcoming Challenges for the Viability of the Beef Industry
Overcoming Challenges for the Viability of the Beef Industry

Trust, credibility and authenticity are the three words that Don Schiefelbein came back to throughout this Casual Cattle Conversations podcast as he discussed the direction of the beef industry.

CAB Insider: Credit End Meats With CAB® Value-Add
CAB Insider: Credit End Meats With CAB® Value-Add

Rib and tenderloins are pricing near their annual highs, but a look at annual price trends across the beef carcass shows increasing contributions to CAB premiums from both ends of the carcass.

Using Genetic Testing to Make Profitable Marketing Decisions
Using Genetic Testing to Make Profitable Marketing Decisions

Genomic tests are a tool that can be used to create strategic marketing plans by taking a small ear tissue sample to compare genome traits of a calf to others in their breed.

Weaning Weight Versus Reproductive Efficiency
Weaning Weight Versus Reproductive Efficiency

What has more value to the profit potential of a commercial cow-calf operation that sells calves at weaning, percent calf crop weaned or weaning weight?

American Royal Hosts Barn Raising at New Site
American Royal Hosts Barn Raising at New Site

The future home of the American Royal moves forward on facility to “create a food and agriculture innovation district that will be unlike any other in the world,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

Nevil Speer
Speer: Bashing The Speculator

There seems a belief that speculators – either too many or not quite enough – are solely responsible for driving the market one direction or another. But bashing speculators is what people do who don’t like the price.

Profit Tracker: Feeding, Packing Margins Remain Red
Profit Tracker: Feeding, Packing Margins Remain Red

Cattle feeding margins fell deeper into the red last week while packer margins improved modestly. Pork producer margins erode further underwater.

'One Black Mark'
'One Black Mark'

Liver abscesses in finished beef-cross cattle continue to frustrate feeders and packers. Severe liver abscesses negatively impact cattle performance in a number of ways.

USMCA Trade Panel Rejects U.S. Complaint About Access to Canada Dairy Market
USMCA Trade Panel Rejects U.S. Complaint About Access to Canada Dairy Market

A trade dispute settlement panel set up under a major North American free trade agreement has rejected a U.S. complaint that Canada is improperly limiting access to its dairy market.

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Want More Calves Born in Daylight? Feed The Cows at Night

Beef cows fed at dusk or later results in more daytime births. Research indicates that to achieve that benefit, feeding at night should be started at least one month prior to calving season.

Boost for U.S. Pork and Beef Exports as China Approves New Plants
Boost for U.S. Pork and Beef Exports as China Approves New Plants

In a positive development for the U.S. meat industry, China recently granted approval for 18 U.S. beef establishments and 12 U.S. pork establishments to export to China, the U.S. Meat Export Federation reports.

Using Social Media to Market Your Cattle
Using Social Media to Market Your Cattle

Young seedstock operators explain how they use social media to build their brand and connect with their customers.

Genetic Merit Pricing: Revolutionizing Feeder Cattle Value
Genetic Merit Pricing: Revolutionizing Feeder Cattle Value

While it's likely the U.S. cowherd is generally of higher quality than it was a decade ago, today’s smaller herd presents an opportunity for ranchers to take another step forward with quality and management.

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Cow and Heifer Slaughter Indicates Continued Herd Liquidation

A strong seasonal increase in beef cow slaughter suggests further reduction in the overall beef cow inventory on Jan. 1, 2024.

Chip-less, Battery-free Sensing Technology Could be Next Phase of Animal Monitoring
Chip-less, Battery-free Sensing Technology Could be Next Phase of Animal Monitoring

A team of Irish researchers has developed a breakthrough innovation to monitor activity and health characteristics of dairy cows – and it doesn’t involve and wires, chips, batteries, or electronics of any kind.

Cash Cattle Lower During Holiday Week
Cash Cattle Lower During Holiday Week

Light cattle sales volumes were recorded in all regions during Thanksgiving week with cash prices generally $1 lower than the previous week, marking the fourth consecutive week with lower cash prices.

A Cut Above: Round The Bend Steakhouse Carves Unique Path With A Compass Of Faith
A Cut Above: Round The Bend Steakhouse Carves Unique Path With A Compass Of Faith

With the purchase of a small town watering hole and a family’s dream, TJ and Tifini Olson, owners of Round the Bend Steakhouse of rural Ashland, Neb., find immeasurable value in the Good Lord, good people and good beef.

Preventing Reproductive Losses: Secrets to a Healthy and Profitable Cattle Herd
Preventing Reproductive Losses: Secrets to a Healthy and Profitable Cattle Herd

An experienced veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Sarchet, shares how cow/calf producers can manage risk and protect profit with a complete and up-to-date pre-breeding vaccination protocol for both cows and replacement heifers.

What Is the Proper Placement and Construction of Windbreaks?
What Is the Proper Placement and Construction of Windbreaks?

Winter is coming and with it, snow and wind. Cattle and farmsteads both can benefit from proper windbreaks. There are two main types of windbreak function on a farm: livestock wind chill protection and snow windbreaks.

Cold Weather Nutrition Needs in Beef Cows
Cold Weather Nutrition Needs in Beef Cows

Cattle producers know that cold temperatures mean extra supplement and hay may be needed. But how much extra feed are we talking about?

Nevil Speer
Speer: Don’t Try This At Home

Cattle futures markets have come under criticism lately for their volatility. A common theme is there are "too many shorts" or "too many longs." That ignores the fundamental fact that futures markets must come in pairs.

Ray and Susan Flickner Receive Kansas Leopold Conservation Award
Ray and Susan Flickner Receive Kansas Leopold Conservation Award

Ray and Susan Flickner of Wichita have been selected as the recipients of the 2023 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award®.

Nine Ways to Help Resuscitate A Newborn Calf
Nine Ways to Help Resuscitate A Newborn Calf

After a typical birth a calf should breathe within 30 seconds of delivery. If it doesn't, be ready to intervene and provide extra support.

Prevention of Respiratory Disease in Feedlot-Bound Cattle Pays
Prevention of Respiratory Disease in Feedlot-Bound Cattle Pays

More calves born on dairies than ever before are eventually headed to feedyards these days. Performance and profitability merits sending healthy animals from the calf-rearing stage to the feedlot.

Top 5 Risks on Your Operation Explained
Top 5 Risks on Your Operation Explained

How well prepared is your operation to manage risk? Here’s a list of the top 5 risks and ways to mitigate the challenges.

Gardiner, Leathers Elected To Lead U.S. CattleTrace Board
Gardiner, Leathers Elected To Lead U.S. CattleTrace Board

Elected to lead U.S. CattleTrace over the next year are chairman Mark Gardiner, Ashland, Kansas, and chair-elect Joe Leathers, Guthrie, Texas.

Capturing Value: Marketing Strategies for Cattlemen
Capturing Value: Marketing Strategies for Cattlemen

An Angus University session on marketing cattle brings together seedstock producers, commercial cattlemen and industry representatives.

Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Fall Underwater
Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Fall Underwater

Cattle feeding margins declined nearly $100 per head last week with lower cash bids and rising costs. Pork producer margins remain mired in red ink.

Get Ready for the Next Cold Snap
Get Ready for the Next Cold Snap

When cows get below their lower critical temperature and get into cold stress, they can adapt by increasing feed consumption to increase their basal metabolic rate and increase heat of fermentation.

American Angus Association® Concludes a Strong Fiscal Year
American Angus Association® Concludes a Strong Fiscal Year

The American Angus Association finishes 2023 with its ninth-consecutive year of more than 300,000 registrations and regular and junior memberships totaling nearly 22,000.

Bennion Ranch Receives Utah Leopold Conservation Award
Bennion Ranch Receives Utah Leopold Conservation Award

Ranchers Alan and Elizabeth Mitchell, Bennion Ranch, Vernon, Utah, received the award at the Utah Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Provo.

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Strong Feeder Cattle Sales Boost Feedlot Numbers

A combination of factors has contributed to increasing feedlot placements the past two months, including drought and increasing imports. But biggest factor is likely that producers are taking advantage of strong prices.

Mackey: COF Relieves Some Anxiety, But Packers Throttle Back Harvest
Mackey: COF Relieves Some Anxiety, But Packers Throttle Back Harvest

Friday’s COF placement numbers provided a friendly lean to a market that has suffered consecutive weeks of falling futures and lower cash bids. Sellers hope to leverage the short week ahead with higher asking prices.

The Value of Hay as Fertilizer
The Value of Hay as Fertilizer

This time of year, many producers are feeding cows hay. Have you ever stopped to think about what the dollar value of the nutrients in the hay are worth as fertilizer once they have been processed by the cow?

Rebuilding the Herd Begins at Pasture Level
Rebuilding the Herd Begins at Pasture Level

Despite recent market declines, many factors point towards an overall bullish cattle market in the months ahead. Jeff Clark of Corteva Agriscience, suggests producers start the rebuilding process in the pastures first.

Cash Cattle Lower Again; COF Higher
Cash Cattle Lower Again; COF Higher

Prices for market-ready cattle have tumbled $7 to $8 per cwt. since the beginning of the month even as supplies remain relatively tight. Volatility continues in the futures market.

Dairy Management Inc.'s Lisa McComb Appointed Chair-Elect of Animal Agriculture Alliance Board
Dairy Management Inc.'s Lisa McComb Appointed Chair-Elect of Animal Agriculture Alliance Board

The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced new upcoming board leadership, along with several board seats have renewed through 2026, following its fall board meeting, held Nov. 7 in Washington, D.C.

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Feed Grain Supply Boost Driven by Corn Yield, USDA Predicts

The U.S. feed grain supply is expected to grow by 3.4 million metric tons, propelled by a projected increase in corn yields for the 2023/24 corn production forecast, reports the USDA Economic Research Service.

USMEF Strategic Planning Conference Wraps Up with New Leadership and Logistics Insight
USMEF Strategic Planning Conference Wraps Up with New Leadership and Logistics Insight

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) successfully concluded its Strategic Planning Conference with the election of a new dynamic officer team, including Randy Spronk, Steve Hanson, Jay Theiler and David Bruntz.

Butler Community College Wins NAILE Junior Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest
Butler Community College Wins NAILE Junior Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest

The Butler Community College Livestock Judging team was named high team overall in a tight to the top of the junior collegiate contest at the 2023 North American International Livestock Exposition.

Noll’s Dairy Receives Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award
Noll’s Dairy Receives Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award

Noll’s Dairy Farm of Alma is the 2023 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award® recipient.