Prior expectations for the number of cattle on feed in the second half of 2023 were that generally tighter cattle supplies and potentially growing retention of heifers for breeding would lead to smaller levels than a year ago.

If you still view your beef-on-dairy crossbred calves as a byproduct, you are probably still getting paid byproduct prices. Embrace your beef crossbreeding program as a revenue stream, and look for strategies to capture the most value per head.

The latest Cattle on Feed report, published by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), estimated the Sept. 1 feedlot inventory at 11.094 million head, over 2% below 11.342 million head in the same month last year.

The latest Cattle on Feed report, published by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), estimated the Aug. 1 feedlot inventory at 11.030 million head, over 2%  below 11.289 million head in the same month last year.

On July 21, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its biannual Cattle report. According to the report, on July 1, 2023, all cattle and calves were estimated at 95.9 million head, down 2.7 million head, or nearly 3%, from July 2022.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its midyear Cattle report on July 21, offering an important update on cattle inventories. The report confirmed that the U.S. cow herd has continued to decline through the first half of the year.

“Just a second. Just be patient,” is a phrase I find myself often repeating to my 2-year-old, and might I add very determined daughter.

Since January, slaughter data has indicated a 12% decline in beef cow slaughter. This is likely a combination of improving pasture conditions, sufficient reductions in animal units per acre on poorer pastures and the prospect of improved profitability from selling calves.

Beef exports in May, while trending below last year’s record levels, have, in many international markets, reached the highest levels so far in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation.