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The Midwest Cattleman · February 23, 2023 · P14
        These 4 Cattle Data Sets Speak for Themselves



                                                                                                                By Greg Henderson and Paige Carlson


         Meteorologists believe the atmosphere is beginning to                As of Jan. 1, total beef cow inventory numbers were down
      trend away from La Niña. That’s good news for cattle pro-             4% year over year. Total beef cows reached the lowest point
      ducers who began 2023 with high-level drought designa-                since 1962.
      tions still firmly in place. But even with average or above           “If we are
      rainfall, the effects of drought will linger.                         looking for
         “Even if we see normal precipitation across the country            signs    the
      this year, the damage to ranchers has already been signifi-           beef herd
      cant,” says John Nalivka, Sterling Marketing president.               is    being
         Here are the headwinds ahead for the cattle industry.              rebuilt,
                                                                            we need to
                                                             The 2022       keep look-
                                                          culling rate      ing,” says
                                                          reached 13%.      Chip Flory,
                                                          Expect a rate     host of “Ag-
                                                          of  12%  for      riTalk.”
                                                          2023, accord-
                                                          ing  to  Rabo-
                                                          bank. A  cull-
                                                          ing rate near       Spring forecasts do not call for major improvement in pre-
                                                          10%  is  need-    cipitation through the Central and Southern Plains, though
                                                          ed  to  stabi-    the summer forecast is more favorable. That’s significant be-
                                                          lize numbers.     cause eight Plains states (Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Ne-
                                                          Lance      Zim-   braska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas)
                                                          merman, se-       account for 48% of the U.S. beef cowherd.
      nior analyst in animal protein for Rabobank, believes cattle
      producers are at least two years away from turning toward
      an expansion mindset.





         WE CAN DO BETTER!




         Part 1 of 3: MORE - Making silage/HMC last longer

                                      (and maybe even carry over)


          There’s more to it than black crust. You may be leaving money on the table.

          Oxygen is your enemy, robbing dry matter tonnage. Running out of feed and
          wasting feed dollars on rot can be avoided. You might end up with carry over!
          •  Piles and bunkers lose on average 7% just in fermentation.
          •  Typical shrink losses are between 15 - 25%, even with little visible spoilage.
                That’s $30 - 50K on a pile worth $200,000.                                                                         T     h    e
          •  The goal is shrink loss less than 10%, and rarely happens unless strict attention                                  dr oug ht’ s
                 is paid to chop length, moisture, correct packing procedures, pack tractor                                     silver lining
                                                                                                                                is
                                                                                                                                       tighter
                 weight, delivery, and sealing with a proven, certified oxygen barrier.                                         supplies and
          We don’t just sell plastic, we teach people how to make better silage and HMC.                                        higher pric-
          With today’s high feed prices, there’s never been a better time.                                                      es. “I’m  fore-
                                                                                                                                casting  450-
          One and two-step barrier sealing films available                                                                      lb. to 500-lb.
          Reserve for 2023 now                                                                                                  calves to av-
                                                                                                                                erage     $205
                                                                                                                                per cwt this
                                                                                                                                year,” Naliv-
                                                                                                                                ka        says.
                                                                            “That’s 18% higher than 2022. For yearlings weighing 750
                                             With Sealpro®, there’s         lb. to 800 lb., I’m projecting an annual average of $193 per
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