Author: Smith

With Limited Heifer Retention, Beef Cow Slaughter Will be the Inventory Driver for the Rest of 2025

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

Last week’s two USDA reports were much anticipated as they provided further information about the level of beef heifer retention at the national level. Heifers, as a percentage of on-feed inventory, were estimated at 38.1% in the July Cattle-on-Feed report. This is not a number that suggests widespread retention. And the number of heifers held for beef cow replacement in the mid-year inventory report was estimated at 3.7 million head, a decrease of 100,000 heifers from July 1, 2023. I wanted to dig into that number a little deeper this week and frame it a bit with the ongoing discussion of beef cow slaughter.

I prefer to think about beef heifer retention as a percentage of beef cow inventory. A higher percentage suggests expansion of beef cow numbers is likely in the future and a smaller percentage suggests the opposite. As a percentage of estimated July 1 beef cow inventory, heifers held for beef cow replacement came in at Continue reading With Limited Heifer Retention, Beef Cow Slaughter Will be the Inventory Driver for the Rest of 2025 →

Tight Fed Supplies Well into the Year-End

– Stephen R. Koontz, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Supply will remain tight.

All cattle markets have continued the march into record-high prices. The weighted average cash fed cattle price in northern markets pushed past $245/cwt, while prices in the southern plains were $235. Live cattle futures contract prices remain at a discount to cash, with August peaking at $233.75 to date.

Cash feeder cattle markets are very strong with prices for 7-8 weight cattle above $345/cwt and 5-6 weight animals above $410. Again, record high prices. These markets have been helped by Continue reading Tight Fed Supplies Well into the Year-End →

Are you prepared for prickly pests?

– Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman)

Horsenettle is often unnoticed until mid-summer!

Prickly, pesky, pests are common among weed species that can become established in Ohio pastures and hayfields that can be challenging to respond to. Two that cause frustration include cocklebur and horsenettle.

Cocklebur is a summer annual weed from the Asteraceae (daisy/sunflower) family. Unlike many of its relatives, cocklebur looks nothing like a daisy. The mature leaves of the plant look similar to the leaves of a sycamore tree, with irregularly lobed and toothed leaf margins. The flower it produces is usually unnoticed because it is green. The fruit it produces is a cluster of egg-shaped burs that easily catch on and hitch a ride on the hide of animals that pass by. Cocklebur can be especially damaging to Continue reading Are you prepared for prickly pests? →

Importance of Forage Growth Stages When Grazing Cattle

– Beth McIlquham, Regional Livestock Educator, University of Wisconsin

When cattle nutrition requirements aren’t met, performance is hindered.

Grazing cattle sounds so simple. The forage grows, the cattle eat the forage, and it all ends with a “happily ever after.” Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as it sounds. To maximize cattle performance while grazing, producers must pay attention to the forage itself and how it can affect the grazing animals.

Growth Stages of Forage
To begin, let’s break down forage growth into three stages. Understanding these is the first step in attaining effective grazing management. The three growth stages of forage are:

Continue reading Importance of Forage Growth Stages When Grazing Cattle

Does what you’re producing have a place in the market?

– Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Livestock Marketing Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

This industry offers lots of room for diversity.

On a recent trip to a major feedlot, there was an opportunity to learn a great deal from feedlot representatives but also through observation. This particular feedlot was at 65 to 70 percent capacity and have been at this capacity for some time.

There were certainly a lot of black cattle in the pens, but the breed diversity throughout the feedlot was wide. There were pens of Waygu-Jersey crosses, Red Angus, Charolais crosses of several colors, and of course the black hided cattle with different breed makeups. Many of the cattle were company owned, but the feedlot also had custom fed cattle. Most of the cattle were in traditional commercial production, but there was also a significant quantity of cattle in the natural program.

The idea this opportunity reinforced was the fact there is a lot of room in this industry for a producer to do a lot of what they want to do. The main thing is to make sure what is being produced has a place in the market, but it appears there is a good bit of leeway in cattle production.

Beef Price Seasonality

– David Anderson, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist – Livestock and Food Product Marketing, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University

Seasonality of various meat cut prices would lead to the expectation of falling prices in coming months.

The recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) that reported retail beef prices hitting new record highs has prompted a lot of questions about when consumers might see lower prices. Of course, we know tighter beef supplies and very good consumer demand are driving prices higher. But beef prices and different cuts have seasonal wholesale market price trends that suggest prices could decline from recent highs.

Ribeye steaks exhibit a seasonal pattern that peaks with the onset of grilling season, but they tend to decline after Memorial Day. They hit their annual peak price in Continue reading Beef Price Seasonality →

Mid-Year Cattle Report Returns with New Insights on Herd Dynamics

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

Two key reports were released on Friday that provide new insights into cattle herd dynamics and feedlot inventories. USDA-NASS published the mid-year Cattle Inventory report and the monthly Cattle on Feed report. Notably, we did not have a July Cattle Inventory report last year, as it was one of several reports USDA-NASS suspended due to budget constraints. Fortunately, the report was brought back this year. As such, comparisons in this article will reference data from July 2023.

The report estimates July 2025 cattle inventories at 94.2 million head, down Continue reading Mid-Year Cattle Report Returns with New Insights on Herd Dynamics →

Investing for the Future

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing Field Specialist, OSU Extension

The beef industry is constantly impacted by unique economic and social changes.

Across the country this cattle market continues to set records almost daily. At my local market recently the top 10 loads of fed cattle all averaged over $2.40, with the top load of 5 steers and heifers weighing 1556 pounds and averaging $247.59 per pound. I’ll do the math for you, that is over $3,800 per head!

The story is the same across the board, feeder cattle, cull cows, and bulls all selling for record prices. In 2024 CattleFax, based on survey data estimated the cost for keeping a cow (minus management cost and depreciation) in the Corn Belt was $795 while the average calf revenue was $1,615 per head. The cow-calf sector over the past several years has Continue reading Investing for the Future →

Time for Change

– Dr. Les Anderson, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Calves sold as singles are about $12/cwt less valuable than similar calves sold in a group of five or more.

Times are good, finally, if you are in the cow-calf industry. Input costs (feed, etc.), although still high, have held steady while feeder calf prices reach all-time highs and profits are finally obtainable for many. It might seem odd but now is the perfect time to evaluate your production system and make necessary changes to prepare for when, inevitably, the market declines.

To determine what factors to adjust, producers first need to determine if they are marketing efficiently by producing a product that fits the intended market. The best example of this is a producer that wants to market feeder calves (400-600 pounds) at the stockyards, yet this producer does not control the calving season and has calves born throughout the entire year. The most inefficient method to market feeder calves is to Continue reading Time for Change →

Cull Cow Evaluation Clinics Explore “Right Way, Right Time” to Optimize Value

– Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension

Could she be managed in a way to optimize cull value?

Fed cattle and feeder calf prices have reached historical highs. But then, so have cull cow values. Knowing that culling is a necessary part of herd management and that when managed correctly the income resulting from cull cows in a beef herd can exceed 20% of the beef cattle farm’s annual income, today, with careful management culling could be an area for experiencing even greater profit.

Presently at a time when culls can vary in value by as much as a dollar a pound, it’s time to carefully consider employing a strategic culling plan that optimizes the income resulting from culls that reach the market place in proper condition, adequately muscled and free of defects.

To dig deeper into optimizing cull cow income with a “right way, right time” approach, join OSU Extension for a two-session program where we will Continue reading Cull Cow Evaluation Clinics Explore “Right Way, Right Time” to Optimize Value →