burnt
Well-known member
Some significant numbers from a news email received this A.M. It seems that Canadian cow numbers a dropping sharply too. Most days I feel like packing it in, especially with the prospect of winter closing in soon . . .but where would I get my daily routine exercise and torture without cows to feed in the snow? :lol: :lol: :lol:
11/7/2008 4:10:00 PM
Feeder Cattle: Higher Prices, Gender Prejudice Buyers
Compared to last week, steer and heifer calves sold firm to 5.00 higher. A much lighter test of yearling feeders traded 1.00-4.00 higher (where supplies were available) as true yearlings were not well tested in many markets this past week. The best demand was noted on lighter weight steer calves suitable for wheat pasture grazing.
Trading was more active, but buyers continue to be gender prejudice with extreme discounts noted on heifer calves as the bidding competition on calves has not gotten heated enough to fill the soft spots.
Calf orders are from feeders and backgrounders who want exactly what they want and in most areas it's a 500-550 lb weaned black steer calf with two rounds of shots.
These calves are still around 10.00 cheaper than the same time last year (more like 15.00 in areas that don't border the Southern Plains) but wheat grazing prospects are better, corn is slightly cheaper, and fed cattle prices are a couple bucks higher. Plus, the numbers of cattle on-feed are less and the beef cattle herd continues to dwindle while our beef exports are on the rise. The year to date beef cow slaughter is currently running 17.6 percent higher than 2007, 22.6 percent higher than 2006, and 34 percent higher than 2005 for the same number of weeks. This has finally caved the slaughter cow market with prices quoted sharply lower across the country this week with the bulk of the weigh-up cows selling in the low 40.00's.
The true reality of tighter numbers of available feeder cattle has not yet been realized. Nationwide reported auction receipts have been 18 percent lighter since the first of September, but the lower markets and the financial crisis have caused many producers to hold their calves in hopes for better prices. Buying power has not yet reached its full fall potential, with very little demand from Midwestern farmer feeders as they are still working on harvesting their late corn and soybeans. Many of these rain producers will be heading to the fields with turkey sandwiches in their lunchboxes and some will even be humming Christmas carols in their combines. Harvesting in the Dakotas was cut short this week due to limited visibility during the season's first full-blown blizzard. Cooler temperatures seem to have settled-in, which reminds agriculturists that winter is on the way and there is still a lot of work left to do. This week's reported auction volume included 36 percent over 600 lbs and 41 percent heifers.
Source: Corbitt Wall, USDA/AMS
11/7/2008 4:32:00 PM
11/7/2008 4:10:00 PM
Feeder Cattle: Higher Prices, Gender Prejudice Buyers
Compared to last week, steer and heifer calves sold firm to 5.00 higher. A much lighter test of yearling feeders traded 1.00-4.00 higher (where supplies were available) as true yearlings were not well tested in many markets this past week. The best demand was noted on lighter weight steer calves suitable for wheat pasture grazing.
Trading was more active, but buyers continue to be gender prejudice with extreme discounts noted on heifer calves as the bidding competition on calves has not gotten heated enough to fill the soft spots.
Calf orders are from feeders and backgrounders who want exactly what they want and in most areas it's a 500-550 lb weaned black steer calf with two rounds of shots.
These calves are still around 10.00 cheaper than the same time last year (more like 15.00 in areas that don't border the Southern Plains) but wheat grazing prospects are better, corn is slightly cheaper, and fed cattle prices are a couple bucks higher. Plus, the numbers of cattle on-feed are less and the beef cattle herd continues to dwindle while our beef exports are on the rise. The year to date beef cow slaughter is currently running 17.6 percent higher than 2007, 22.6 percent higher than 2006, and 34 percent higher than 2005 for the same number of weeks. This has finally caved the slaughter cow market with prices quoted sharply lower across the country this week with the bulk of the weigh-up cows selling in the low 40.00's.
The true reality of tighter numbers of available feeder cattle has not yet been realized. Nationwide reported auction receipts have been 18 percent lighter since the first of September, but the lower markets and the financial crisis have caused many producers to hold their calves in hopes for better prices. Buying power has not yet reached its full fall potential, with very little demand from Midwestern farmer feeders as they are still working on harvesting their late corn and soybeans. Many of these rain producers will be heading to the fields with turkey sandwiches in their lunchboxes and some will even be humming Christmas carols in their combines. Harvesting in the Dakotas was cut short this week due to limited visibility during the season's first full-blown blizzard. Cooler temperatures seem to have settled-in, which reminds agriculturists that winter is on the way and there is still a lot of work left to do. This week's reported auction volume included 36 percent over 600 lbs and 41 percent heifers.
Source: Corbitt Wall, USDA/AMS
11/7/2008 4:32:00 PM
