"The events that released the trapdoor on this week’s feeder markets were largely the previous week’s USDA crop report that lowered quarterly corn stockpiles and the ensuing Chicago frenzy that sent nearby corn contracts up the limit and cattle futures down over $2,” Say analysts with the Agricultural Marketing Service....More

“Managing for a margin is much more important today than at anytime in the past,” says John Rakestraw, CEO of Colorado-based Agra Holdings, which feeds cattle, provides feedlot consulting, and manufactures feedlot nutritional supplements, among other feedlot-based activities. Between 1984 and 2003, Rakestraw worked for ContiBeef LLC – he was CEO and president from 1995 to 2003. ContiBeef – sold to JBS and operating currently as Five Rivers Cattle Feeding – was and is the largest cattle feeding organization in the world....More

Regionally, calves, stockers and feeder cattle traded in a narrow range on either side of steady. More specifically, according to AMS, new-crop calves sold lower for the second straight week, with fall-born calves selling steady to $5 lower....More

Injectible trace minerals were beneficial in improving performance and health parameters of shipping-stressed stockers in a University of Arkansas (UA) receiving trial....More