60 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN August 2024 A family-run business operation for over 40 years, with experience in upgrading any type of cattle A precise estimate of cost of gain and market data, given to you the day the cattle enter the feedlot We’re located in a fast-growing, grain production area. Our feedlot location is ideal...In sandy soil with dry yards almost year-round. Constant contact with many packer buyers every week who know our cattle are “honestly fed” to achieve the highest grade Arrangements can be made for financing your feed cost and cattle Our feedlot has the reputation you can count on Now, let’s zero in on a portion of the overall beef supply that has gone from relatively plentiful to not nearly as plentiful over the past few months – that being cull beef cows. Roughly three years’ worth of full-tilt liquidation of beef cows has significantly slowed over the past few months and may, in fact, be coming to an end. (Chart 3: Beef Cow Slaughter.) The absence of USDA’s July 1 Cattle Inventory Report this year frustratingly shorts the beef industry of what would have been a valuable mid-year look at big-picture inventories at a time when that data would have been quite a valuable guidepost. In a historical sense, a prolonged reduction in beef cow slaughter levels and the retention of heifer calves to replenish beef breeding herd numbers are two key ingredients that must be present to ultimately lead to the tightest overall beef supplies and cattle supplies of any given cycle, and the highest prices on both sides of the packing house. It appears one of those key factors is coming into play (reduction in beef cow slaughter), but its effect on overall beef supply levels is being somewhat muted by the prevalence of “jumbo” fed steer and heifer carcass weights. The second factor (heifer retention) we cannot yet confirm, at least not on a widespread basis. I will be keeping a keen eye on USDA’s Jan. 1, 2025, cattle inventory data as well as any significant additions to (or subtractions from) overall fed cattle slaughter capacity over the next year or two. This cycle has already proven itself to have no shortage of moving parts, and I assume that will continue to be the case. ~NC~ MARKETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58 sales@deweze.com •800.835.1042 • deweze.com OUR GREATEST GENERATION New & improved look. Greater versatility. Backed by the same DewEze durability you demand. Introducing the all-new 800/900 Series Bale Beds now available at your local DewEze dealer. Trusted by generations, engineered for yours - that’s DewEze.
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