Beef Production

What is efficient beef production?

Efficiency is important to the profitability of an individual cattle operation and to the competitiveness of the industry as a whole. In times of changing output and input values, it is very important to keep in mind what efficiency is…and what it isn’t. ... Full story.

Production efficiencies should be lauded

The efficiency of today’s beef production systems produce more food with less resources for a growing population. ... Full story.

A great time to be in this business

During last week’s 40th anniversary event at Decatur County Feedyard, Cattle Fax CEO Randy Blach presented a bright but bumpy outlook for cow-calf producers.

With beef demand likely outpacing supplies for the foreseeable future, cow-calf producers have unprecedented opportunities amid high production costs and continued market volatility. “We haven’t seen anything yet,” Blach says with regard to cattle prices. ... Full story.

Cattle Outlook: Beef exports up 27% in first 3 quarters of 2011

The World Trade Organization has determined that the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling rules (COOL) are "inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations" in part because they afford less favorable treatment to imported Canadian cattle and hogs. I assume this means the COOL regulations will change, eventually. ... Full story.

New research aimed at commitment to sustainable beef

Checkoff dollars are funding a new sustainability assessment to identify opportunities for continued improvement in beef cattle production practices. ... Full story.

U.S. beef exports continue growth into 2012

Through September, U.S. beef exports were 27 percent above a year ago. Mainly, strong exports to Asia underlie such double-digit growth. U.S. exports to Japan and South Korea are 36 and 47 percent higher than a year ago. ... Full story.

Best of times, worst of times for feedyards

Cattle feeders have seen prices hit record highs twice this year, and price prospects look good for 2012. But the declining inventory of feeder cattle remains a big industry challenge. ... Full story.

Should Iowa cattlemen feed the world?

This has been a season of weather extremes. It began Last month during the World Food Prize events in Des Moines, the Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) report was released by the Global Harvest Initiative. ... Full story.

Fed cattle prices at ‘unprecedented’ highs as drought continues

Fueled by declining beef production due to the drought and booming exports, fed-cattle prices soared to “unprecedented” levels, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert. ... Full story.

Finishing cattle in 2012

The year is winding down with the holidays between use and another year. Cattle feeders are looking out into a year with opportunities and a heavy dose of uncertainty. ... Full story.

Beef production down, 2012 cattle price forecasts unchanged

The forecast for 2011 total meat production is lowered from last month as lower beef production more than offsets higher expected pork and turkey production. Beef production is lowered as steer and heifer slaughter in the second quarter was lower than expected although more cows were slaughtered. ... Full story.

Tight meat supplies will continue to support higher cattle prices

The forecast for 2011 red meat and poultry production is raised from last month, reflecting increased production of beef, pork, broilers, and turkeys. Fed cattle slaughter will reflect expected strength in feedlot placements during early 2011 and relatively large dairy cow slaughter in the first part of 2011 will also contribute to higher beef production. ... Full story.