Prime roars back
Date: Sep 30 2020
| CAB InsiderPosts by Paul Dykstra :
CAB carcass specifications expanded
Date: Sep 16 2020
| CAB InsiderThe brand recently announced two additional carcass spec modifications to further enhance opportunities for stakeholders. As we ease toward October, feedyard managers will remain hopeful for increasing values in both cash cattle and deferred live cattle futures contracts.
CAB Tonnage up, premium spike emerges
Date: Sep 02 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle Markets & Premium PotentialSeven weeks of slight improvements in fed cattle pricing came to a halt as packers paid $1 to $2/cwt. less for fed cattle last week. The USDA Cattle on Feed Report, published the Friday before, had some influence, with the August 1 on-feed number posting a record high for the date.
CAB carcass cutout premiums bolstered
Date: Aug 12 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle Markets & Premium PotentialSpot market carcass cutout values are subject to anomalies. Protein buyers may take advantage of opportunities in seasonal shifts, market disruptions or other unexpected changes in supply and demand.
Greater eligibility assists CAB supply
Date: Jul 29 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle Markets & Targeting the BrandFed cattle prices have stabilized and improved in the later part of July, but are still lower than a year ago. With a backlog of cattle on feed longer, greater eligibility is joining up with higher quality grades to increase July certified head counts above those seen a year ago.
50-14 legislation considerations
Date: Jul 15 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle MarketsThe past couple of weeks have offered little excitement in the fed cattle trade. Consumer driven economic signals have been passed back to producers because the marketplace has been allowed to differentiate price for cattle and beef product based on quality specifications and other merits.
Outlook for heifer retention and cow numbers
Date: Jul 01 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle MarketsPackers have proven capable of not only large weekly production but of daily headcounts on par or larger than a year ago. The turnaround in the cattle cycle and the abnormalities of 2020 will further incentivize producers to shrink the nation’s herd.
Out front sales leap
Date: Jun 17 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle MarketsWith increased boxed product supplies comes a strong demand from the buying side to secure previously scarce supplies. These days, price is more favorable for end users. Fed cattle supplies are overwhelming and packer margins still leave room for boxes to be marked cheaper on larger production volume.
Picking up the pace
Date: Jun 03 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle MarketsFederally inspected headcounts have seen rapid recovery since the lows experienced in April. For the past two weeks, the FI harvested headcount has been 86% and 89% of the same two weeks a year ago. Fed cattle prices have remained steady, averaging $116/cwt., with carcass weights steadily creeping higher.
Grid values improve, grade runs high
Date: May 20 2020
| CAB Insider & Cattle MarketsFrom a beef demand perspective, nothing is normal as we are just a week removed now from all-time cutout highs. However, end-users are still buying what beef they can and consumers are generally clearing meat case inventories.