LIVESTOCK COMMENTS: The calf market is still as hot as it comes with stocker operators and backgrounding operations paying ever increasing prices to secure these animals
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
Enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and profitability in beef production with growth promoting technologies
Cattle Network
As of Thursday, negotiated cash trade in the Texas Panhandle has been moderate, with live FOB purchases trading $4.00 higher than last week at $208.00. In contrast, trade activity in Kansas, Nebraska, and the Western Cornbelt has been limited on light to moderate demand, with too few sales to establish a full market trend.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
Cattle slaughter on Thursday, April 17, totaled 120,000 head, up from 114,000 last week and slightly above the 118,157 processed on the same day a year ago. Week-to-date slaughter reached 477,000 head, outpacing both last week’s 463,000 and tracking just below last year’s 486,297. Despite the weekly gain, year-to-date cattle slaughter sits at 8.91 million head, down 5.3% from the same period in 2024.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: Belle Fourche Livestock set the pace nationally Thursday morning with 87 head at 600 lbs selling for $376.00, the highest price paid for 6-weight steers in the barn’s history. It stands as the top sale in the country so far today, highlighting exceptional demand and premium-quality cattle in western South Dakota
CLARA LIVE
LIVESTOCK, DAIRY & POULTRY OUTLOOK: The 2025 beef production outlook is raised by 15 million pounds from last month to 26.700 billion pounds. Projections for cattle prices are higher as laughter steer prices are raised to $205.51 per hundredweight (cwt) and feeder steer prices are raised to $281.03 per cwt
Ag Reports: Most Recent
Heading for the Gap (THE BEEF)... CME cattle futures continue their rally with most active June LC surpassing a .618 retracement this morning, now the highest since April 4. It’s high today of $202.50 is 170 points shy of the gap left April 3. Cattle futures have hit nothing but green lights this week and for now, are attempting to separate themselves from the outside markets, which continue to trade in a more tentative manner
CLARA: Cattle Barometer
CLARA EXPERT INSIGHTS: Cattle Barometer Rating: 72 (Bullish)... The cattle market remains bullish with record-high prices and tight supplies, but risks include heavy carcass weights, potential packing capacity reductions, and increased competition from pork and poultry. Producers should use risk management tools like LRP to secure profits amid volatility. (In The Cattle Markets)
CLARA (Cattle Livestock Analytics and Reporting AI)
CLARA LIVE: Flint Hills Livestock (Saint Marys, KS) set new benchmarks on Tuesday, April 15, with two standout sales that established all-time record highs at the barn for both 7-weights and 9-weights. A strong group of 60 head at 759 lbs brought $314.25, setting a new 7-weight record, while 124 head at 924 lbs sold for $286.00, marking the highest 9-weight sale ever recorded at the location.
CLARA LIVE
CLARA LIVE: 🎉 Beaver County Stockyards in Beaver, OK recorded the top sales for 8-weight steers in the country so far on Tuesday, with 61 head at 802 lbs bringing $290.00 and 42 head at 842 lbs selling for $284.50. These impressive trades now rank as the 4th and 10th highest all-time 8-weight sales at the Beaver location, highlighting continued demand for quality heavy feeders.
CLARA LIVE