Posts by Paul Dykstra :

Continual Improvement Drives CAB Acceptance Rates

Date: Oct 08 2025

| CAB Insider

The past year marked the tenth consecutive year that brand sales have topped one billion pounds. This is impressive for the brand, given the year was constrained by significantly fewer fed cattle harvested. In fact, the 5.77 million certified carcasses represent a 2.9% decline in carcass supplies for the brand than last year.

Carcass Weights at it Again

Date: Sep 24 2025

| CAB Insider

Heavier carcass weights are no headline in 2025, yet this week’s official beginning of fall presents a great time to check in on weight trends. Year to date, average weekly fed cattle carcasses are 24 lb. heavier than a year ago and an astounding 46 lb.

Big-time Cutout Performance

Date: Sep 10 2025

| CAB Insider

In the second and third quarters this year, carcass cutout values have risen at an unprecedented pace. Meanwhile, fed cattle harvest levels fell from just a 0.5% deficit in the first quarter to averaging near 8% below last year beginning in March.

Holding On for the Ride

Date: Aug 27 2025

| CAB Insider

With fed cattle supplies projected to tighten even further into 2026, we aren’t equipped to mark any peak on the price charts for this phase of the supply cycle. What does appear evident is that, despite total beef market fluctuations, consumer demand for marbling-rich carcasses meeting consumer expectations are generating substantially larger premiums and gross dollars, compared to the average, than they were under similar market circumstances in 2014.

Trends Entrenched

Date: Jul 31 2025

| CAB Insider

Certified Angus Beef ® brand supply trends will continue to see the push and pull of cattle management responding to tight cattle supplies. Estimates for this year’s corn crop suggest an exceptionally large yield, continuing downward price pressure. This, coupled with freshly printed record replacement feeder cattle prices, will work to entrench the modern feedyard motivation to push days on feed to new heights with carcass weights following along to new records.

North to South Weights and Grade

Date: Jul 16 2025

| CAB Insider

CAB carcass certification rates unsurprisingly mirror the contrast seen in the grading data. While carcasses must meet all 10 specifications, the importance of the marbling specification in brand acceptance lends the trend to follow regional grade tendencies.

Progress, Not Complacency

Date: Jul 02 2025

| CAB Insider

Beef demand has been exceptional because of dramatic increases in consumer satisfaction for a few decades. Since taste ranks at the top of the list when it comes to what drives consumers to choose beef, we know where our figurative “bread is buttered.”

Cutout and Quality Strong

Date: Jun 18 2025

| CAB Insider

Summer weather has begun to set in with more regions of the country set to experience hotter temperatures. This means the traditional turning of consumer focus toward hamburgers and hot dogs rather than steaks, the spring favorite.

Onward with Quality

Date: May 21 2025

| CAB Insider

It’s been a quality-rich season in the fed cattle business with added days on feed and heavier weights continue to push quality grades higher.

It’s Beef Month

Date: May 07 2025

| CAB Insider

Wholesale and retail beef buyers have been preparing for weeks ahead of the spike in consumer beef buying associated with warmer weather and holiday grilling demand.