Making the best of beef
Live cattle traded early last week as a small rally in the futures market on Wednesday encouraged packers to increase their bids to $126, steady with previous week levels. Production was well under previous year and 2.3% down from the week before in number of head harvested. Carcass weights, however, continue to run well above historical levels and have offset some of the losses in head count. CAB® carcass weights are up 11 pounds for the fiscal year to date, and 35 pounds above the last 6 weeks versus previous year.
Boxed beef values were down week across all grades as demand was called sluggish. Most retail buyers have moved past Easter purchases and are now looking to begin filling their needs for peak grilling months. Grade continues to improve as USDA Choice runs at 66% of the fed cattle harvest, a full point above previous year levels. This bodes well for CAB® production, which continues up as well; acceptance rate improved over previous week to reach 24.9%.
Until we meat again,
-David
You may also like
CAB Sets Sales Records, Sees Historically High Brand Acceptance Rates
In an otherwise tough time in the beef business, sales and supply records have been a bright spot. The positive numbers mean that quality beef production has not let up, and beef demand is holding. Consumers have proven the value proposition: the good stuff is worth a little more money, for a better eating experience.
Gardiners Highlight Service, Strength at Foodservice Leaders Summit
Mark Gardiner and his son, Cole, of Gardiner Angus Ranch offered a boots-on-the-ground perspective for CAB specialists attending the annual event, designed to deliver resources that help train foodservice teams and serve consumers at a higher level.
Making Sense of Supply, Pricing and Navigating the Market
Amid anticipated shifts in cattle supply and evolving market dynamics, CAB remains well-positioned to navigate the beef sales road ahead. Clint Walenciak addressed how producer profitability, strategic specification adjustments, and resilient demand will help stabilize the brand’s beef supply chain through herd size and pricing shifts in 2025 and beyond.