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For more than 10 years, Paul Dykstra has written a bi-weekly market column for the brand which evolved into the CAB Insider e-newsletter. He shares current market updates, trends and observations with a closer look at the cattle market from the beef-product side than you can find anywhere else. Yes, there’s an emphasis on the Certified Angus Beef ® brand, and you will also find the latest research exploring carcass quality.
We want you to have confidence in what is relevant and drives value in your cattle business to help you make profit-driven decisions at home. And the CAB Insider helps you do that.
Meet the Author
A native of Colorado, Paul Dykstra grew up on a commercial cow-calf ranch in western Colorado and later earned a degree in animal science from Colorado State University. Paul worked as a feedyard manager for the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., before joining the brand’s supply development team in 2002.
As the Director of Supply Management and Analysis for the brand, Paul combines his experience and knowledge to work closely with ranchers and feedyard managers to raise Angus cattle using the best management practices to enhance profitability by producing quality beef.
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Holding On for the Ride
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
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
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.