Friday, March 11, 2016

CATTLE OUTLOOK – Ron Plain and Scott Brown Ag Economics, MU March 11, 2016



CATTLE OUTLOOK – Ron Plain and Scott Brown
Ag Economics, MU   March 11, 2016

U.S. beef exports during January were up 7.4% compared to a year
earlier (+12.1 million pounds), due largely to increased shipments to
South Korea and Japan.  January beef imports were down 3.2% (-9.56
million pounds) due mostly to 14.9 million pounds less beef imported
from Australia.

January beef imports equaled 14.7% of U.S. production while exports
equaled 8.9% of production.  Lower beef prices and a weaker dollar
likely will be necessary to bring balance to imports and exports.

The number of cattle imported from Mexico was down 26,631 head (33.5%)
compared to January 2015 and the imported number from Canada was down
4,724 head (8.4%).

The Canadian cattle inventory was up 0.3% at the start of 2016 to
11.96 million head.  The Canadian cow herd was up a slight 0.1%.  The
number of beef heifers being kept for herd replacements was up 4%.

Fed cattle prices were steady to higher this week in light volume.
Through Thursday, the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold
on a dressed weight basis was $218.09/cwt, up $6.09 from last week’s
average, but down $41.00 from a year ago.  The 5-area average live
steer price averaged $136.00/cwt.

Beef cutout values were higher this week.  This morning the choice
boxed beef cutout value was $224.12/cwt, up $3.35 from the previous
Friday, but down $19.95 from a year ago.  The select carcass cutout
was $215.25/cwt, up $3.24 from last week, but down $29.34 from a year
ago.

This week’s cattle slaughter totaled 536,000 head, up 0.6% from last
week and up 1.5% from a year ago.

The average steer dressed weight for the week ending on February 27
was 887 pounds, up 1 pound from the week before and up 12 pounds from
a year ago.  This was the 89th consecutive week with steer weights
above the year-ago level.

Prices at the Oklahoma City Stockyards this week were mostly steady to
$3 lower on feeder steers and steady on calves compared to last week.
Prices for medium and large frame #1 steers by weight group were:
400-450# $208-$230, 450-500# $206-$213, 500-550# $190-$206, 550-600#
$165-$199.50, 600-650# $164-$187, 650-700# $149.50-$179.25, 700-750#
$147.10-$166.50, 750-800# $152-$161.50, 800-900# $139.25-$163.50 and
900-1000# $136-$143.75/cwt.

Cattle futures ended the week higher than the previous Friday.  The
April live cattle futures contract settled at $139.80/cwt today, up
$3.45 for the week.  June fed cattle settled at $128.55/cwt, up $2.08
from the previous week.  The August contract ended the week at
$123.20/cwt, up $1.28 from the previous Friday.

March feeder cattle ended the week at $162.40/cwt, up $3.90 from a
week earlier.  April futures gained $4.50 this week to close at
$162.72/cwt.  May feeder cattle settled at $162.10/cwt and August
closed out the week at $161.35/cwt.

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