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Tyson Foods, a major meat company, is expecting further pressure on beef volumes and predicts "flat" overall protein sales in the coming year. The company's beef and pork volumes decreased in the fourth quarter, while chicken and prepared-foods segments saw growth. Tyson Foods cited limited cattle supply as a challenge for the beef segment, and the company expects challenging supply conditions to persist until significant heifer retention and herd rebuilding occur. The company also mentioned an imbalance between supply and demand in the pork segment. Despite net losses, Tyson Foods remains optimistic about its long-term prospects and sees its prepared-foods segment as a key growth pillar. [Extracted from the article]

Fort Keogh has several herds, one of which is a composite herd that's managed very much like a commercial cow-calf herd in a challenging environment. These animals are 450 pounds at weaning", Roberts said."When we manage an animal to be smaller, you can program that animal to be more efficient", he concludes. The heifers from restricted dams enter breeding season at 54% of mature eight, or around 650 pounds."Sometimes I present these results to producers and they say my heifers are 650 pounds at weaning. [Extracted from the article]

We all know cattle that are faster than seems ideal, but the acceptable range of exit speed or excitability within a herd or group remains undefined.In the Texas research, performance results extended beyond the feedyard and into the beef supply chain. That says herd operators at all stages along the production chain could realize benefits from selecting for docile cattle.On the other hand, building on their heavier feedyard entry weights, the calm heifers gained 12% faster during the growing period. [Extracted from the article]

The other heifer inventory includes heifers already in feedlots as well as heifers that are part of the estimated feeder supply. It is typical for some heifers not included in reported replacement heifer inventories to get bred and enter the cow herd. With the pipeline of beef replacement heifers and residual other heifers extremely low, heifer retention will likely begin mostly with heifer calves. [Extracted from the article]

Zoetis has introduced Valcor (doramectin and levamisole injection), the first and only combination endectocide in the United States designed for use against internal and external parasites in cattle. "Valcor offers the unique combination of doramectin and levamisole", said Mark Alley, DVM, MBA, Diplomate, American College of Animal Welfare, and managing veterinarian with Zoetis beef technical services. "In a research study with more than 1,500 head of heifers, Valcor reduced fecal egg count numbers by 99.9% compared to ivermectin at 85%, and the heifers treated with Valcor gained 9.3 pounds more than the ivermectin-treated heifers over 56 days. [Extracted from the article]

USDA's July "Cattle" report showed that the U.S. beef cow herd continued to decline through the first half of the year. Feeder cattle prices will continue to increase to jump-start heifer retention, which will lead to even higher prices as feeder supplies are further squeezed with fewer heifers in the feeder cattle supply. The smaller beef cow herd is part of a general decrease in all cattle numbers in the U.S. The total inventory of all cattle and calves in this report was 95.9 million head, down 2.7% year over year. [Extracted from the article]

Vendor management inventory Sam Walton worked for JC Penny stores and met JC himself. What do JC Penny, Walmart, Schell gas stations, and Tractor Supply, and real estate investors all have in common? If a vendor can get their product on a Walmart shelf, Walmart knows what they are going to price the item at. [Extracted from the article]

While beef cow slaughter is down thus far...down 12.0% year over year in the first six months of the year...the current pace suggests a herd culling rate over 12% for the year. The beef replacement heifer number in the upcoming report will be of keen interest and is likely to show a still smaller number compared to last year but could show a slight increase year over year if heifer retention has begun. [Extracted from the article]

While input prices may come down slightly, he explained that higher feeder cattle prices will hurt margins as Christmas nears. Cattle leaving the yard from June through November are projected to have pretty healthy net returns, according to Kansas State University economist Glynn Tonsor. "What happens as we progress is there is a slow uptick in expected fed cattle price, but there is a much faster increase in the projected feeder cattle price", Tonsor said. [Extracted from the article]

The decline in feedlot inventory has been relatively slow with May feedlot placements higher than expected based on lingering drought impacts and strong feeder demand as feedlots attempt to maintain inventories. Prices are higher across the board as tighter cattle numbers and declining beef supplies push markets towards or beyond record levels. The first half of 2023 has certainly seen significant changes in cattle and beef markets. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the latest "Cattle on Feed" report on Friday, showing feedlot inventory totaled 11.6 million head on June 1, 2023, down 3% from June 1, 2022. B Feeder prices luring more cattle into feedlots b Feedlot returns were very strong during May and have been positive for a lot of the year, which Shagam said has brought very strong demand for calves. [Extracted from the article]

Cattle Market Review When I look at the markets from different auctions around the country this week I would call the Value of Gain (VOG) spotty. Ann Barnhardt's Cattle Marketing DVD Set | Barnhardt This is the only learn from home option I recommend. [Extracted from the article]

The number of replacement heifers is not enough to prevent more herd liquidation this year and likely not enough to do more than stabilize the beef cow herd in 2024. The first step to stabilizing the beef cow herd is the reduction of beef cow slaughter and a lower rate of cow culling. Following record beef herd culling in 2022, beef cow slaughter is down 11.5% so far in 2023, a sign that herd liquidation is slowing. [Extracted from the article]

When going out to tag calves, most cow-calf producers would prefer to find a new bull calf rather than a heifer. For cow-calf producers who understand and leverage a heifer's value potential, steers are great for providing income, but heifers can be used to generate wealth. Heifer profitability Obviously, the cattle market and the long-term cattle cycle comes into play in this discussion when looking at the value of a bull calf versus a heifer calf. [Extracted from the article]

While signs are encouraging that the drought will continue to fade through the year, more beef cow herd liquidation is likely in 2023. https://www.farmprogress.com/cattle-news/here-we-go-again Graph The supply of bred heifers on January 1 was down 5.1% year over year to the lowest inventory since 2011. The low bred heifer inventory combined with the relatively slow reduction in beef cow slaughter makes additional beef cow herd liquidation this year probably unavoidable. The peak in cattle prices in 2014, extending into 2015, precipitated record heifer retention in 2015 and 2016 that pushed the beef cow herd higher. [Extracted from the article]

The report also gives information about the mix of steers and heifers and weight ranges and suggests slightly fewer heifers and lighter cattle overall. It does not capture all feeder and stocker cattle transactions and the report notes that "receipts vary depending on the number of auctions reported" - but comparisons over time can be informative when considering current market dynamics to previous years. The number of feeder and stocker cattle sold during the first four months of 2023 was about 4% higher than during the same period in 2022, according to data from the USDA-AMS "National Feeder and Stocker Cattle Summary.". [Extracted from the article]

In a normal year in Oklahoma, sometime during the spring, replacement heifers would be selected from the yearling females coming off wheat pasture. A RTS of 1 is refers to a prepubertal heifer, a RTS of 2 or 3 is refers to a peripubertal heifer (transitional stage), and a RTS of 4 or 5 is refers to a pubertal (cycling) heifer. Heifers with a RTS of 1 or 2 are less likely to be cycling at the beginning of the breeding season and therefore are less likely to become pregnant or if they do become pregnant, do so later in the breeding season suggesting that heifers with a RTS of 1 should possibly be eliminated from the breeding group. [Extracted from the article]

He volunteered a whole list of reasons he wouldn't be able to buy any cattle, most of which were the fault of us other buyers. The only thing saying to buy these open heifers is the price relationship between them and first-calf pairs. [Extracted from the article]

Come drought or rain, a cattle operation can match forage output if you have a safety net of disposable animals. The value of gain is good enough that you may be surprised by the profitability of heifers. Ironically, producers often find disposable enterprises add more value to their operation than the cow-calf herd. [Extracted from the article]

Total year-to-date cow slaughter is down 3.6 percent year over year with dairy cow slaughter up 4.6 percent year over year and beef cow slaughter down 10.3 percent year over year. Boxed beef prices are pushing higher as a result of decreased beef production and supported by continued strong beef demand. Daily slaughter totals for the year-to-date show that steer slaughter is down 2.3 percent year over year, with heifer slaughter up 0.4 percent year over year leading to total fed slaughter down 1.2 percent for the year thus far. [Extracted from the article]

Despite last quarter's record high heifer placement numbers, feedlot placements in recent months have been lower than a year earlier, especially of heavier feeder cattle. The increase in fed cattle and feeder cattle prices has coincided with increased price volatility. [Extracted from the article]

According to Google, the Dollar has lasted much longer than the average duration of fiat currencies. The host said that the US Dollar is now the world's longest lasting fiat currency in history. [Extracted from the article]

New guidelines are coming soon to antibiotic and implant use with the implementation of the Food and Drug Administration's Guidance for Industry 263 and 191, respectively. Herman adds that in some areas, finding a veterinarian may be a challenge, because there is a shortage of both rural and large-animal veterinarians. In the end, Herman explains, veterinarians are there to help cattle producers be as successful as possible, and that partnership starts with a VCPR and herd evaluation. [Extracted from the article]

In talking to some sale barn owners this week, they all agreed they will sell considerably fewer cattle this year. We can get our pom poms out and cheer all we want about higher prices, yet if we do not market our cattle in a certain way this paradigm can still cause us to lose money. [Extracted from the article]

Shown in the first chart below, steer slaughter was not elevated above average levels in 2022 like beef cow and heifer slaughter totals were. Beef cow slaughter, heifer slaughter, and steer slaughter have each begun 2023 with lower slaughter totals than in 2022. [Extracted from the article]

When we examine the price of first calf heifer pairs, and bred heifers to the open replacements the value capture is unattractive at best and nonexistent at worst. With some heavy weight feeders posting a sell price slightly above to slightly below fat price there are some outstanding fat-to-feeder trades to be made as well. Few people understand that the COG is the fulcrum point for price relationships between cattle. [Extracted from the article]

The time commitment and financial investment in developing a replacement heifer is a daunting task-especially when one can come up open after having only one or two calves. If the NPV is positive, then the investment has earned a rate of return greater than the discount rate and should be pursued. This $547 NPV plus the -$500 NPV equals $47 which compares favorably to the -$327 NPV of holding an open cow this year. [Extracted from the article]

The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report showed March 1 feedlot inventories at 11.645 million head, down 4.5 percent year over year and the lowest March inventory since 2017. The current state of cattle inventories, especially the cow herd size, replacement heifer inventories and expected calf crops are generally analogous to the previous period beginning in late 2012. Based on the analog period, feedlot inventories will likely decline from the feedlot inventory MA peak in September 2022 to a level similar to the 2014 low in the coming months and remain relatively low for the next four years or longer. [Extracted from the article]

In four months, the cow they originally bought gave them a $600 value capture. When was the last time a conventional cow-calf operation sold a calf off the cow for $600 more than it cost to raise it? Some of the great buys right now are the "late" calving cows and the thin cows. [Extracted from the article]

"With a traditional dewormer that lasts maybe one month, the product has already worn off when we hit that peak infestation level, so cattle will be reinfected if they don't receive another dose of dewormer", he added. For operations that turn out cattle for several months of grazing, an extended-release dewormer might be the right tool to control parasitic infections. [Extracted from the article]

Selecting replacement heifers using production records, herd goals, and available resources allows producers to manage feed costs and improve heifer selection. Select heifers from older cows as these cows are successful in the current production system, as replacement heifers must grow and develop in similar feeding conditions. Yes, you could be keeping the most efficient growing heifers, but in the long run, this could move the size of the mature cow herd to a larger-than-desired mature-cow size. [Extracted from the article]

Higher beef cow and fed heifer slaughter elevated beef production in 2022, reflecting worsening drought conditions. According to the latest USDA Cattle on Feed report published last week, feedlot inventories were below year-ago levels for the fifth consecutive month. If USDA continues to revise the 2023 beef production forecast upward, it will suggest that drought conditions still need to improve to moderate beef cow and heifer slaughter. [Extracted from the article]

For example, on January 1, 2023, the inventory of bred beef heifers was 3.17 million head, made up of replacement heifer calves from last year (2.14 million head) and another 1.03 million head of extra heifers bred out of the inventory of other heifers from last year. The decreased number of beef replacement heifer calves and extra beef heifers bred in 2021 and 2022 helps explain increased heifer slaughter the past two years. Subtracting the number of beef bred heifers from the total beef replacement heifer inventory leaves the number of heifer calves in development to be bred this year. [Extracted from the article]

Cow culling cuts herd The 28.918 million-head U.S. beef cow inventory on Jan. 1 was down 3.6% from Jan. 1, 2022. Replacements must pass tests A heifer for beef cow replacement is a heifer that has been selected to be bred and placed in the beef herd. Producers hope that a replacement heifer will become a fertile cow that produces a calf, annually, for a long time. [Extracted from the article]

Delayed heifer retention this year should result in strong feeder cattle prices in both 2024 and 2025. The first observation is that cattle prices are likely to increase and be strong for at least three years. Feeder cattle prices will escalate quickly once heifer retention begins, but the market is still several months away from this. [Extracted from the article]

While beef cow inventories tend to get the most attention, several other numbers are particularly interesting. A combination of dry weather, higher input costs, and high cull cow prices resulted in an 11% increase in beef cow slaughter during 2022. [Extracted from the article]

The Oklahoma beef cow herd decreased by 140,000 head in 2022 (largest state decrease in the country) to a January 1 total of 1.981 million head, a 6.6 percent decrease year over year and the lowest beef cow inventory since 2016. The decrease in Oklahoma cattle inventories included decreases in the beef cow herd, replacement heifers, feeder supplies and feedlot inventories. The estimated supply of feeder cattle outside feedlots in Oklahoma (steers + other heifers + calves - feedlot inventory) was down was down 18.5 percent to the lowest level since 2014. [Extracted from the article]

We sold 805-pound heifers at $164.50, and bought back 485-pound heifers at $180.35. If her next trade is close to $100 per head profit and she virgin buys more cattle after that one she will have a light load lot of her own feeder heifers. That profit will be reinvested back into virgin buying more heifers for her. [Extracted from the article]

B Calf crop down 2% b The 2022 calf crop in the U.S. was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from the previous year's calf crop. While mostly in line with pre-report trade estimates, the highly anticipated USDA "Cattle" report provided an even clearer picture of the drought's impact on the U.S. beef cattle industry. Calves born during the second half of 2022 were estimated at 9.16 million head, 27% of the total 2022 calf crop. [Extracted from the article]

The system uses clean calving pastures to prevent direct contact between older calves and younger calves. Although the cow herd serves as the source of calf scour pathogens from year to year, the average dose load of pathogen exposure to calves is likely to increase over time within a calving season because calves infected earlier serve as pathogen multipliers and become the primary source of exposure to younger susceptible calves. [Extracted from the article]

More Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics are discovering the feedlot and carcass performance of their genetics through various American Hereford Association (AHA) programs. "These programs are a convenient, cost-effective way for Hereford seedstock producers and their commercial customers to identify how their genetics perform in the feedlot and in the packinghouse. Currently, 94 participants from 22 states are feeding more than 1,400 head of Hereford and Hereford-influenced feeder cattle at HRC Feed Yards, Scott City, Kan. [Extracted from the article]

Large heifer numbers in feedlots supported the 4.8 percent year over year increase in heifer slaughter in 2022 and was the largest heifer slaughter total since 2004. The January Cattle on Feed report from USDA-NASS showed the fourth consecutive month of declining feedlot inventories starting in October. The decrease in feedlot heifers does not, at this point, reflect heifer retention but simply a lack of heifers due to large heifer slaughter the past two years. [Extracted from the article]

If a player leads the team in turnovers and is a 17% shooter I don't care if that player is the leading scorer. When a team is ahead these better players help elevate their teammates. She also watches the high school varsity team and the teams they will play. [Extracted from the article]

Profit is possible in the beef industry if producers reorganize the way they think about their beef cattle operation. Profitable beef cattle small business owners also control the quality of the product (health and nutrition programs) and minimize the costs of production by implementing quality forage and grazing programs. The IRM survey suggests that most beef producers don't think of their operations as a small business. [Extracted from the article]

So what does the combined effect of accelerated beef cow harvest and reduced heifer replacement decisions mean for herd liquidation and prices received? Beef cow herd liquidation occurred in a significant way in 2022 due to a combination of strong lean beef demand, higher cull cow prices, and forage issues due to drought. Selling more heifer calves today will lower future feeder cattle production but increase operational income today whereas retaining more heifers will decrease current income while increasing future feeder cattle production. [Extracted from the article]

The use of beef semen on dairy cows is a recent change in the dairy industry to increase revenue and likely profitability for dairy operations. Traditional dairy steer calves had relatively less value, but by employing sex-sorted beef semen on dairy cows that are not candidates to produce replacement dairy heifers, the outcome is a steer calf with additional value when fed and turned into beef. 2022 is also showing larger differences between steer and heifer values, and may reflect both higher cattle values in general and the high cost of gain in feedyards. [Extracted from the article]

The light-weight cattle have a high VOG, the middle weight cattle have a low VOG and the heavier feeders have a high VOG gain again. One sale even sold heavy nine weight bred heifers for less dollars per head than a 950# feeder heifer would bring on their weekly sale. Your cattle didn't bring what cattle sold for the week before. [Extracted from the article]

Davis urges producers to cull any cows that lost their calves during this time so resources can be dedicated to productive cows. Davis also suggests cattle producers identify and cull the open cows and heifers so resources can be dedicated to the most productive cows and heifers. As the year ends, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis urges cattle producers to evaluate their record-keeping system to determine if it was successful. [Extracted from the article]

One big move to consider in the female market is these under-valued heifer calves. Charting the female market Since I have been teaching marketing schools every couple months this year I have slides of the general state of the female market during the same period. This suggests the bulk of a cow/calf operation's income would come from trading some cows. [Extracted from the article]

Improving Feeder futures prices, a stronger fed cattle market and limited supplies of feeder cattle all combined to push prices higher. Oklahoma feeder cattle auction prices jumped sharply the week after Thanksgiving. Going forward into the new year, heifer and cow slaughter should decline thereby allowing total slaughter and beef production to decrease. [Extracted from the article]