Latest News From Cattle

Former Alabama Cattlemen's Association executive vice president Dr. Billy Powell was presented with the second annual Beef Checkoff Visionary Award during the 2022 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting, Reno, Nevada.

American Farmland Trust supports policy that helps farmers and ranchers protect their land from development, combating climate change, and enabling a new generation of farmers to better access land.

Recent sales data suggest alternative proteins are struggling to maintain the momentum the products enjoyed after first hitting the market.

Unique partners collaborate to showcase the environmental benefits of cattle production.

Drought has been a topic of conversation among ranchers for several months. Join us Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 3 p.m. CST as we discuss drought and it's impacts on producers.

American Foods Group is ready to begin construction on its new 2,400-head per day beef packing facility in east-central Missouri.

Drought impacts have accelerated sharply in the southern plains in July, with the volume of feeder cattle in Oklahoma auctions up 24% the last two weeks and the volume of cows and bulls up nearly 124%.

Cash cattle prices declined a dollar or more in all regions last week with packer demand noticeably softer than the week before.

USDA's mid-year inventory is the smallest since 2015 with beef cow herd down 2.4%. Cattle on feed inventories unchanged from last year at 13.4 million.

As Cattle on Feed and Cattle inventory reports release today, economist Kevin Coburn shares his expectations and how the numbers might affect the cattle cycle.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued Executive Order 22-04 calling upon the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to activate the Drought Assessment Committee and the associated drought impact teams.

Environmental and advocacy groups are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use its authority to conduct more oversight of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO).

Markets understand the tight supply picture that is being set up and have responded accordingly. Feeder Cattle futures have moved into the mid-$180s, which creates pricing opportunities for summer stocker operations.

Worries about drought and how to make it through the winter with limited or no stored forage has monopolized our thoughts, energy, and time. There are critical steps that need to be made in order for us to make it.

A New Mexico jury rules in favor of a cattle producer in a contract dispute with Tyson Fresh Meats, ordering the packer to pay millions in actual and punitive damages.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are harmful to livestock, wildlife and people.

Ranchers face the reality of a depleted forage base. One potential solution is early weaning calves which has the primary benefit of improving cow condition for rebreeding, especially when forage is limited.

The invasive tick can transmit the Theileria orientalis parasite, which attacks blood cells. The Ikeda genotype of this organism can be fatal to cattle.

Pasture recovery will require more than a few rain showers due to the dry soil profiles and continued high temperatures. Management strategies must focus on pasture recovery after drought.

There was never enough need by any packer to push the market but could be a sign they may be getting shorter on committed cattle. Regional packers seem to have cooled down in the North.

Lower cattle inventories combined with a cattle on feed inventory about equal to last year, is expected to lead to a roughly three percent decrease year over year in estimated feeder supplies outside of feedlots.

Flies can be more than an annoyance – they can even be dangerous, whether impacting a ride with your horse in a single, painful bite, or transmitting diseases to horses and cattle.

Federal misguided environmental policies can have an impact on all of agriculture and impact long-term U.S. food security.

Reddick Farms of Bardwell is the recipient of the 2022 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award®.

Current data on beef cow slaughter, combined with historical price performance of cattle markets after reaching an inventory low point, provides some insight for cattle price trends for the second half of 2022 and 2023.

Based on the data, it’s impossible to establish any meaningful link between beef imports and the packer and fed cattle prices.

Reviewing cattle placement in feedlots this year suggests that fewer fed cattle supplies expected in the fourth quarter along with much higher costs of gain will hold carcass weights below a year ago.

Performance of stocker calves on native range declines from highs of around 2 to 3 pounds per day during the spring and early summer to less than one pound per day through the late summer.

None of the smaller beef export markets account for more than 1.5% of the total, but many small markets are growing and contributing to a more robust set of export markets for U.S. beef. 

Genetic thievery in commercial herds! It’s a real problem, though it often goes unnoticed. Calves with bottom-end genetics pull average weights down and shrink the size of your calf check.

America's largest food distributor has filed suit in Texas alleging the Big 4 packing companies conspired to fix prices since 2015.

Packers regained much of their leverage last week and prices inched lower. Feeders will struggle to hold prices at a similar level this week.

Fed cattle prices weakened slightly following the long holiday weekend, but prices for feeder cattle and calves continue a contra-seasonal advance. Beef demand remains at a high level.

U.S. beef exports topped $1 billion for the fourth month this year while setting new volume and value records. Pork exports, still below last year’s large totals, rebounded in May as shipments were the largest of 2022.

Haying ditches has unique safety concerns any year due to the highly variable sloped surfaces of ditches. Unsafe conditions can create wear and tear on equipment, damage equipment or cause injuries or even death.

The revenue side of the business always gets the most attention. To that end, producers generally equate the marketing check to the financial health of the operation.  

Increasing populations of ticks has led to an increase in 'red meat allergy' a condition that can result in some individuals having an allergic reaction to the consumption of red meat.

Research at Oklahoma State focuses on how managed grazing with virtual fencing can improve grazing distribution, pasture biodiversity and productivity, and wildlife and pollinator habitat.

Understanding gene x environment interaction (G x E) is important for beef production as some animals perform better in an environment than others.

AHA webinar to provide details about ongoing research with Colorado State University to characterize the relationship between genetics associated with efficiency and those associated with cattle's carbon footprint.

Growth promoting technologies for cattle provide even more impact on net returns when costs are high.

In just 4 years, targeted grazing has intercepted three wildfires around Elko, NV. Preventing these fires conserved wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and other ecosystem services.

Exactly how continuing drought, reduced forage production and high feed prices will impact cattle and beef markets in the coming months remains uncertain. 

Market analysts expect demand for beef and wholesale beef prices will begin a post-July 4 seasonal decline the next several weeks.

Drought has limited pasture availability and forced many producers into feeding total mixed rations to cows. Including silage in a TMR can reduce ration cost, improve the energy content of the diet, and add moisture.

Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, supported by Purina.

Our inflationary situation is solvable.  Energy costs are the most significant driver to inflation across the beef supply chain – gasoline at the pump for consumers and diesel fuel for production and distribution.

Project will impact working ranches and rural communities, while quantifying the value of soil health and other ecosystem functions.

Gaining a greater understanding of how your cattle development decisions impact the next phase provides context around the market signals from bidders and buyers.

Providing access to water can be challenging especially for operations enduring drought conditions. Water related toxicities and fatalities may be seen with greater frequency under hot and dry time periods.