Latest News From Livestock Markets

The cattle market has taken a break from the highs, but it may be too early to get bearish. What Does USDA's April 1 Cattle on Feed Report tell us about supplies and prices moving forward?

The cattle market has moved into uncharted territory. It came as a result of one of the worst droughts in history but how long will the bull market last?

Cattle feeders have experienced their best month in years with prices reaching record levels. Hog producers, however, are struggling to keep margins out of the red.

Cash fed cattle traded at steady money in all areas after futures markets moved lower Friday. Feeder cattle and calves posted significant weekly gains.

Here are the key market headwinds ahead for the cattle industry.  

Grains are firmer ahead of the report.  Soybeans and meal are the strongest on SA weather.  Cattle seeing more profit taking, while hogs are lower.  Michelle Rook has an update.  

USDA has announced the details of the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program to help cattle producers get better information about the cattle market. 

Grains mixed after WASDE. The only change USDA made to U.S. ending stocks was in corn by lowering exports. Brian Splitt of AgMarket.Net has analysis.  

The Senate Ag Committee is scheduled to vote on the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act this week. 

Cattle markets were hit hard Thursday on news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Higher grain prices drove feeder cattle prices as much as $5 lower on CME feeder cattle futures and more than $2 lower for CME Live cattle.

Heat across the Plains stifled prices on steers and heifers, yet August is historically a good time to sell yearlings and this year is no exception, AMS reporters said. Wholesale beef prices continued higher Monday.

March beef and pork exports each posted the highest monthly value on record. Pork exports and shipments of beef muscle cuts also set new volume records in March.

A year after the pandemic disrupted the hog industry and left producers facing financial ruin, operators are now experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime rally as farrow-to-finish margins climbed another $7 per head last week.

Unlike last year, there is no shortage of beef in the pipeline. Wholesale beef prices, however, continue a runaway spurred by unprecedented domestic and export demand.

Beef may be in high demand but cattle prices struggle to hold steady. Fed cattle slipped $1 to $2 lower last week and auction prices for feeder cattle fell $1 to $5 lower, AMS reporters said.

The reopening of restaurant and foodservice is driving beef demand to pre-pandemic levels and beyond, spiking wholesale beef prices $20 per cwt. higher this week, and more than $34 per cwt. higher over two weeks.

Cattle and hog feeding both saw solid average profits for the week ending April 2, boosted by higher average farmgate prices. Cattle were positive for the second week, while positive hog margins entered a third month.

Lean hog futures finished slightly higher Tuesday. The strengthening U.S. dollar may be a factor, but there are also other fundamentals playing into the market. 

Cash prices for both cattle and hogs advanced last week leaving feeding margins for both species solidly in the black. Hog margins were positive for the eighth consecutive week and cattle climbed out of the red.

Profit margins for cattle and hogs continue trending in opposite directions as feedyard closeouts slipped below breakeven and hog margins saw another boost from higher prices.

Cattle and hog finishing margins were headed in opposite directions last week, with lean hog prices enjoying a three-week rally while cattle prices were stuck in neutral for a second week.

Beef packer leverage is evident with cash cattle prices $7 per cwt. lower than the same week a year ago and beef cutout prices $23 per cwt. higher. Pork producers are gaining leverage with a $5 per cwt. price rally.

Cash fed cattle prices ended last week $10 per cwt. lower than last year while the beef cutout closed $16 higher than the same week a year ago. The result? Packer margins $314 per head more than last year.

Cattle feeders were left on the sidelines as every other cattle/beef market segment saw a price rally. Futures markets set new highs, but cash cattle have not reached $112 for seven months.

Negotiated cash fed cattle traded $2 higher in the South during the holiday-shortened week. Futures markets appear supportive and asking prices will be higher in the days before New Year's.

On a percentage basis, beef packer margins declined significantly last week. It's all relative, of course, since the starting point from the previous week was stunning.

Despite a disappointing end to 2020, a positive story is unfolding for the cattle markets in 2021. Sue Martin and DuWayne Bosse explain why the last half of 2021 could produce better prices.

Cattle and hog feeding operations saw their margins remain modestly profitable last week with little movement in cash prices. Both cattle and hog feeding margins are higher than last year at the same time.

Cattle and hog finishing margins are both modestly positive for the seventh consecutive week, though hog margins saw a slight decline with lower lean carcass prices.

Closeouts on cattle and hogs marketed last week remain modestly profitable for the sixth consecutive week, according to calculations by Sterling Marketing.

CoBank estimates meat supplies at grocery stores could shrink nearly 30% by Memorial Day, leading to prices rising by as much as 20%. Some cattle producers say they are barely hanging on due to futures prices.  

Significantly reduced slaughter levels brought the full weight of the COVID-19 crisis to bear on cattle markets this week as cash cattle prices declined and boxed beef prices spiked to record highs.

COVID-19 has temporarily placed a restriction on the number of cattle that can be harvested in a given week. That scenario is usually a recipe for lower prices, but this week’s extremely light fed trade was steady.

Estimated cattle industry losses due to COVID-19 will reach $13.6 billion, according to a study by ag economists conducted to assist USDA in determining how best to allocate CARES Act relief funds to cattle producers.

The coronavirus meltdown is the second black swan event for cattlemen in six months, but many fear this is worse than the Tyson packing plant fire.

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 58,350 head being reported which is 129 percent of the 52-week average.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average this past week, with 4,625 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $39.71, up $0.73 per head from last week.

Cash-traded weaner pig reported volume was above average this past week, with 53,200 head reported.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average this past week, with 10,130 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $31.41, down $6.59 per head from last week.

Farmers are likely to absorb more costs of retaliatory tariffs as U.S. bargaining power shifts in global commodity markets, CoBank says.

Cash-traded weaner pig reported volume was above average this past week, with 65,905 head reported. Cash weaner pig reported prices were $21.89, up $1.89 per head from last week.

The profit potential decreased $3.77 this week to a projected gain of $8.86 per head.

Looking at hog sales in December 2019 using December 2019 futures the weaner breakeven was $58.60, up $0.76 for the week.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average this past week, with 2,370 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $69.07, down $6.41 per head from last week.

Cash-traded weaner pig reported volume was below average this past week, with 16,975 head reported. Cash weaner pig reported prices were $52.47, down $3.06 per head from last week.

Cash traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 40,500 head being reported which is 103 percent of the 52-week average. Feeder pig reported volume was below average for the week, with 7,705 head reported.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average this past week, with 4,800 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $97.36, down $2.81 per head from last week.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was below average this past week, with 4,800 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $97.36, down $2.81 per head from last week.

Cash traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 50,115 head being reported which is 132 percent of the 52-week average.

Trade talk is a big issue for everyone here at the convention and the focus isn’t just on China. For another year, the priority remains the same, the cattle industry vocal they want a free trade deal with Japan.