– Dr. Kenny Burdine, Extension Professor, Livestock Marketing, University of Kentucky

Last week, Josh wrote about pasture conditions and specifically mentioned the Southern Plains and the Southeast. A quick look at the drought monitor linked here reveals increasingly dry conditions in the Eastern half of the US and the region of Kentucky I call home is now classified as “abnormally dry”. I can certainly speak to how badly we need a good rain and I know that rings true for many producers. Weather is always a concern during summer, and this certainly bears watching in the coming weeks.

As I cringe thinking about the possibility of another widespread drought, I am reminded of how long lines at auction facilities made national news last year as conditions worsened through summer. A lot of producers were forced to move cows due to limited forage growth. By the end of the year, 389 thousand more beef cows were harvested in 2022 than in 2021, which was an increase of about 11%. Beef cow slaughter through the third week of May can be seen in the chart above. Thus far, it is very clear that Continue reading Comparing Beef Cow Slaughter in 2023 to 2022 →

– Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

There has been lots of commentary among consumers about gas prices as we unofficially head into summer. Nationally, regular gasoline prices had begun slowly to come off of their all-time highs of $5.01 per gal. high in June 2022 to a new low of $3.09 per gal. in January 2023. Prices have risen steadily over the last several months to $3.57 per gal. as of the week of May 22. Higher gasoline prices tend to reduce travel as total costs for vacations and trips increase. Ultra Low Sulfur diesel has also come down from its high of $5.78 per gal. in June 2022. But different from regular gasoline, it has continued to decline to $3.85 per gal. nationally. This puts diesel prices at similar nominal price levels as in 2012-2015.

Diesel is one of the primary inputs in the transportation of goods throughout the United States. Livestock hauling is no exception. Feeder cattle are generally transported long distances in the fall as they move from summer grazing to placement in backgrounding operations or directly into feedlots. Cattle, and other livestock in general, can handle transportation stress fairly well – to a point. Trucking feeder cattle long distances can impact animal health outcomes and improper handling by animal handlers can lead to bruised or injured cattle. These negative impacts can generally be offset by appropriate stocking densities, proper trailer ventilation, correct animal handling techniques during loading and unloading, and truck and trailer sanitation. The Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQA-T) certificate is one way the industry is taking steps to address the potential negative effects of trucking. Most states have an extension specialist who can provide this training and certification.

* See EDITOR’S NOTE below to learn more about BQA-Transportation and the Stockmanship & Stewardship program in Continue reading The Changing Cost of Cattle Transportation →