Prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
Beef
Retailers who expected lower demand for higher end cuts of beef began substituting Select product. This was factor in the Select carcass cutout surpassing Choice by $1 earlier this week. The Choice beef cutout averaged $354.33 last week, making it $5.59 higher. The Select cutout was $6.70 higher, averaging $351.22. Concerns regarding demand are plentiful, yet customers are still purchasing beef. The Lexington Nebraska Tyson plant was scheduled to close permanently on January 20, but the shuttering is ahead of schedule with no production shifts scheduled this week. Given current cattle numbers, production will not exceed capacity in 2026.
The beef import quota from Brazil was filled in the first three days of this year instead of the three months many analysts predicted. Any Brazilian beef imported will now face a 26.5% tariff. Cases of New World Screwworm often get reported in relation to how close they are to the U.S. border rather than number of total cases. Mexico reported 500 active cases of the screwworm during December. A new concern has surfaced with cases reported in wild boar within 200 miles of the border. The estimated harvest of 553,000 head last week was 79,000 more than the previous week and 38,000 less than last year. Beef exports were 11% lower in October year-over-year, but the largest since June. Export value was also the highest since June. October beef export value equated to $364.78 per head of fed cattle harvested, down 4% from a year ago.
Top Quality
Top quality steers and heifers were mixed this week with most bringing $220-$230/cwt, with some packages to $234/cwt. Mixed Choice and Select steers and heifers ranged from $210-220/cwt. High grading Holstein steers were mixed at $188-$209/cwt. Lower grading steers brought $169-$188/cwt. Silage fed, under finished steers brought $90-$168/cwt. Dairy Beef cross steers were mostly $1 lower, bringing $181-$227. Cows were lower. Most cows brought $109-$140/cwt, with a few selling into the high $150s. Lower yielding cows brought $60-$108/cwt. Doubtful health and thin cows brought up to $60/cwt. Dairy breed bull calves were steady, selling from $650-$1,150/head, with some higher. Dairy breed heifer calves brought $200-$600/head. Beef and Beef Cross calves were steady from $700 to $1,500/head, with some higher. Light and lower quality calves sold up to $60.
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