WLI

Cash cattle price were generally mixed to steady last week as more calves make their way to town and as fed cattle keep slugging for extra traction.

“Seasonal weakness in the calf market is evident as producers have been setting wheels under calves the past several weeks at a rapid pace,” says Andrew P. Griffith, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee, in his weekly market comments. “…As more calves make their way to the market, stocker producers become more selective in the cattle they will pay a premium for. Freshly-weaned calves tend to have an increased incidence of sickness this time of year as weaning stress is compounded by large temperature swings. From the stocker perspective, there is an opportunity to profit on calves being purchased and sold in truckload lots. The value of gain for an October purchase of a 525-pound steer and the sale of an 825-pound steer in March is $1.42 per pound with a 5% death loss. That is favorable math.”

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.99 lower on Friday (83¢ to $2.68 lower). Week to week, they were an average of $2.54 lower, amid profit taking from recent gains, slack interest, stagnant cash prices and skittishness about the monthly Cattle on Feed report. They received added pressure from resurgent Corn futures, which closed an average of 11¢ higher through the front six contracts week to week on Friday, with strong export demand.

However, Feeder Cattle perked up on Monday in response to the Cattle on Feed report. More on those numbers momentarily.

As mentioned in Cattle Current last week, in the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook, ERS increased the projected annual average feeder steer price for next year by 50¢ to $155.50, based on expectations of tighter feeder cattle supplies in the second half of the year. Prices are forecast to average $153.00 in the first quarter, $151 in the second and $156.00 in the third quarter.

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Although there was some uptick on live prices in the North, negotiated cash fed cattle prices last week were mainly steady.

Regionally, trade last week, trade was at $124.00/cwt. on a live basis in the Southern Plains, $124.00-$126.50 in Nebraska and $124-$125 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was at $196.

The five-area average direct fed steer price was 55¢ higher at $124.39/cwt. The average five-area price in the beef was 29¢ higher at $195.99.

“Cattle feeders and the industry have to be expecting prices to break one way or the other,” Griffith explains. “They will certainly do it, but the timing of such a price movement is becoming more difficult to decipher with week-after-week of steady prices.”

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.41 lower week to week on Friday, except for 5¢ higher in the back contract.

ERS projected the annual average fed steer price for next year at $128.75, compared to this year’s expected average of $121.06. Average prices are forecast at $130.00 in the first quarter, $128 in the second and $126.00 in the third quarter.

In the meantime, wholesale beef prices continue to show signs of turning the seasonal corner. Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.58 higher week to week on Friday at $281.82/cwt. Select was $2.49 higher at $263.11.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed on Friday. Tech stocks were pressured by Snap Inc. issuing a warning on ad spending, which took more than $100 billion in market value from various social media companies.

Also pressuring stocks was Fed a warning from Federal Reserve Chair Powell  that U.S. inflation is likely to last into next year and that it was, “time to taper.”  Overt the weekend, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen echoed Powell, saying she expected inflation to remain through mid-year 2022.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 74 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 5 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 126 points.

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For feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity, according to the latest Cattle on Feed report, there were 2.16 million head placed in September, which was 64,000 fewer year over year (-2.9%). That was 4.1% fewer than the average of analyst estimates ahead of the report.

Marketing’s in September of 1.79 million head were 3.1% less than a year earlier, which was 0.4% less than average estimates.

Cattle on feed Oct. 1 of 11.55 million head was 167,000 head fewer than the previous year. That was 1.43% less. Average estimates ahead of the report saw a decline of 0.5%. The total was the second largest for the date since the data series began in 1996.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on light demand to mostly inactive on light demand through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

So far this week, live prices are steady in the Southern Plains at $124/cwt., steady to $2.50 higher in Nebraska at $124.00-$126.50 and steady to $1 higher in the western Corn Belt at $124-$125. Dressed prices are steady at $196.

Cattle futures closed mixed Thursday.

Live cattle were down an average of 63¢ lower on likely profit taking, pressure from Lean Hogs and positioning ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed report. Feeder Cattle managed to close narrowly mixed.

Feeder Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from an average of 36¢ lower to an average of 19¢ higher.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 63¢ higher at $280.66/cwt. Select was 8¢ lower at $262.72/cwt.

As for grains, Corn and soybean futures closed lower Thursday beneath the weight of profit taking and lower crude oil prices.

Corn futures closed mostly 4¢ to 7¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 18¢ to 21¢ lower.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mainly higher Thursday. Support included fewer weekly jobless claims than the trade expected. Initial weekly unemployment claims for the week ending Oct. 16 was 290,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That was 6,000 fewer than the previous week and the lowest level since March 14 last year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 6 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 13 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 94 points.

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Slaughter data continues to suggest beef cow herd liquidation.

“The cow herd is in contraction mode this year as the drought and tough economical factors have made ranchers think of ways to keep the cow herd together,” according to analysts with the Agricultural Marketing Service. “Preliminary data from NASS puts the beef cow slaughter rate at around 9% more than a year ago and near 20% more than the previous five-year average. Heifer slaughter is 4.3% more than last year and 10.7% more than the previous five-year average. Producers will be looking at pregnancy checking females even more serious this year as production costs continue to rise.”

August beef and dairy cow slaughter was 6% higher year over year, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), in the latest monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. Combined cow slaughter was 7% more through the first four weeks of September, compared to the previous year.

“The increase in cow slaughter is likely the result of weaker margins in the dairy sector, which is affecting herd decisions and concerns about forage availability, and continued drought in parts of the country. These conditions are expected to result in increased cow slaughter in the fourth quarter.” say ERS analysts.

ERS increased forecast beef production for next year by 120 million lbs. to 26.99 billion lbs. on higher anticipated overall cattle slaughter.

“Dry conditions are expected to support relatively large placements in the second half of 2021, supporting a higher forecast of fed cattle slaughter in 2022,” ERS analysts explain. “However, production in the second half of the year will reflect lower placements as a result of expected tighter supplies of cattle outside feedlots in 2022.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was slow with moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Trade in the Southern Plains was mostly steady at $124/cwt.

Although too few to trend, there were some early live sales in Nebraska at $124.00-$126.50, and some in the western Corn Belt at $124-$125, compared to $124 in both regions last week. Early dressed sales were steady at $196.00.

Cattle futures closed higher Wednesday, bolstered by higher outside markets, leveling wholesale beef values, slightly higher cash prices and positioning ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed report. Trade volume remained on the low side.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 74¢ higher (50¢ to 95¢ higher).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 85¢ lower Wednesday afternoon at $280.03/cwt. Select was $1.27 higher at $262.80/cwt.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.05 higher (50¢ to $1.32 higher).

Higher outside markets and energy prices helped boost Corn Futures Wednesday, while exports and more non-commercial interest boosted the entire grain complex.

Corn futures closed 7¢ to 9¢ higher — mostly 8¢ higher — across most of the board.

Soybean futures closed mostly 18¢ to 20¢ higher through Jan ‘23.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mainly higher on the back of quarterly corporate earnings reports that continue to beat estimates.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 152 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 16 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 7 points.

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Projected cattle feeding returns are expected to improve for most of the next eight months, reflecting higher fed cattle prices and lower cost of gain compared to recent months, according to the latest Historical and Projected Kansas Feedlot Net Returns from Kansas State University. 

After a projected -$4.24 per head for fed steers in October, forecast returns between November and June of next year range from -$9.26 in January to +$94.49 in March.

Losses are projected in only three of those months: -$1.24/head in November, -$9.26 in January and -$3.25 in June.

Feedlot Cost of Gain for steers was projected to be $115.22/cwt. in October. It declines steadily from there: $112.81 in November to $100.83 in June.

Keep in mind that these projections are cash-based and reflect no price risk management.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand to a standstill through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were too few transactions to trend.

Live prices last week were steady in the Southern Plains on a live basis at $124/cwt. and steady to $2 higher at $124 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were at $196, which was steady in Nebraska but steady to $3 higher in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 79¢ higher Tuesday afternoon at $280.88/cwt. Select was $1.72 higher at $261.53/cwt.

Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed Tuesday amid light trade with Feeder Cattle futures showing signs of firming.

Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 25¢ lower to an average of 13¢ higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 34¢ lower through the front five contracts to an average of 64¢ higher the rest of the way.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 6¢ to 8¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Tuesday, propelled once again by strong quarterly corporate earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 198 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 33 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 107 points.

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Higher costs make this a good winter to focus more intently on feed management, says Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University.

Based on USDA’s Agricultural Prices for August, Peel points out national average alfalfa hay prices week 20.5% higher year over year. The national average price for other hay was up 13.4%.

“The epicenter of hay market impacts appears to be North Dakota along with surrounding states. Prices for alfalfa hay in August (North Dakota) were up 109.5% year over year with other hay prices up 69.4%,” Peel explains, in his weekly market comments. “In South Dakota, August alfalfa hay price was up 62.0% and other hay price was up 62.9%. Minnesota prices for alfalfa and other hay were up 63.1% and 54.5%, respectively. In Montana, alfalfa hay price was up 53.8% over last year in August and other hay price was up 39.3%.”

Even in the Southern Plains, where there was less drought impact, hay prices were higher. Specifically, Peel says other hay prices are 23.5% higher year over year in Oklahoma and up 10.6% in Texas. At the same time, current corn prices in the region are 40-50% higher.

“With higher prices for hay and supplement feeds, producers can reduce winter feeds costs with enhanced management. The process begins with understanding nutritional requirements of cattle by stage of production. Testing and weighing hay will help determine the nutritional contribution of hay to meet cattle needs,” Peel says. “Careful feeding of hay can help reduce waste and make hay stretch farther. Determine the additional needs for protein and energy and source supplement feeds that provide needed nutrients.”

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive with very light demand to a standstill through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were too few transactions to trend.

Live prices last week were steady in the Southern Plains on a live basis at $124/cwt. and steady to $2 higher at $124 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were at $196, which was steady in Nebraska but steady to $3 higher in the western Corn Belt.

The five-area direct average steer price last week was 88¢ higher at $123.84/cwt. The average steer price in the beef was 33¢ higher at $195.70.

Cattle futures started the week softer amid technical considerations and traders apparently seeking more price direction. Another day of stronger Corn futures added pressure to Feeder Cattle. Some might also be considering positions ahead of the monthly Cattle on Feed report due out Friday.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.52 lower, (50¢ lower at the back to $2.07 lower toward the front).

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 43¢ lower, except for an average of 8¢ higher in the back two contracts.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 15¢ lower Monday afternoon at $280.09/cwt. Select was 81¢ lower at $259.81/cwt.

Corn futures got a follow-through boost from export sales, which were 85% more than the prior four-week average, according to the latest U.S. Export Sales report for the week ending Oct. 7. They closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ higher.

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Major U.S. financial indices closed mainly higher Monday, buoyed by strong quarterly corporate earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 36 points lower. The S&P 500 closed 15 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 124 points.

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USDA’s Economic Research Service lowered the projected average fourth-quarter feeder steer price (basis 750-800 lbs., Oklahoma City) by $4 compared to the previous month to $151.00/cwt., based on more quarterly feedlot placements than expected. That took about $1.00 from the average annual price projection — compared to the previous month — to $144.80.

However, in the latest monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook, ERS increased the projected annual average feeder steer price for next year by 50¢ to $155.50, based on expectations of tighter feeder cattle supplies in the second half of the year. Prices are forecast to average $153.00 in the first quarter, $151 in the second and $156.00 in the third quarter.

As mentioned in Cattle Current previously, ERS lowered the forecast fourth-quarter five-area direct average steer price by $4 to $127, based on seasonal trends and large supplies of fed cattle. However, the projected fed cattle price increased for the second half of 2022 on anticipated firm demand and tighter fed cattle supplies.

ERS projected the annual average fed steer price at $128.75, compared to this year’s expected average of $121.06. Average prices are forecast at $130.00 in the first quarter, $128 in the second and $126.00 in the third quarter.