May 25, 2023 | Vol. 15 : No. 5-B
Don’t misunderstand, it’s going to take more than three days to sell cattle on a video livestock auction. Throughout the process though, three days stand out as the most important. Carson Womble, 18-year veteran video representative (rep) with Superior Livestock Auction, offers advice for producers to be prepared.
For expansion of the nation’s cow herd to occur, you need cash, and you need grass, CattleFax Analyst Troy Bockelmann said during the group’s May 24 outlook webinar. “If you have both of those things, you can start to get some calves.”
Pointing to factors improving both feed supplies and cow-calf profitability, Bockelmann said, “We’re starting to see the tides turn.”
Beef cow slaughter has remained elevated from first-quarter levels for the last three weeks, hovering around 70,000 head per week. Year-to-date totals estimate cow harvesting levels are about 12% below last year, but these recent weeks have been closer to 10% below. The first quarter of 2023 averaged 11% below, with a few weeks as much as 25% lower than 2022.
Consumer demand for high-quality beef has been a long-time sales driver for Certified Angus Beef (CAB). Growing to satisfy evolving consumer preferences, the brand now includes a grass-fed option: Certified Angus Beef® Grass-Fed by Niman Ranch.
May 11, 2023 | Vol. 15 : No. 5-A
Most cattle feeders measure performance, costs and returns in terms of liveweight, regardless of marketing method. Using liveweight as the yardstick has the advantage of being simple to understand and easy to relate to purchase and sale weights.
Everyone is talking about how valuable genetics are becoming today. There is good reason for that. With higher premiums for quality grade, with higher prices in general and with higher input costs, the value of genetics has never been higher. When you factor in the new tools, like the Genetic Merit Scorecard®, for the first time we have an objective and reliable way of describing the genetic merit in a pen of feeder cattle.
Feeder- and fed-cattle prices have continued to rise throughout the first part of the year. Reduced cattle supplies and relatively stable beef demand have helped support higher prices. Fed- and feeder-cattle prices have reached all-time heights, at least nominally.
Build Relationships in the quality-beef supply chain to capitalize on the Angus genetics you purchased. See our latest Feeder Calf Marketing Guide online.
Make your Angus bulls work for you. Catch up on all the latest podcast episodes:
