Page 25 - MWC 9-14-2023s

Feed Situation The Midwest Cattleman · September 14, 2023 · P25

By Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University
Beef cattle inventory levels the conditions are better in consuming units
have been expected to contin- the eastern U.S. and worse in translates into
ue to remain low. Feed avail- the southwest U.S. lower demand.
ability has been a limiting The Economic Research Both combine to
factor in recent years. Its at- Service tracks and builds in- push down prices.
tending cost has also limited dexes of grain, high protein, A major demand
profits for cow-calf producers. and roughage consuming ani- source in recent
Heading into fall, there are mal units. The roughage con- years has come
a few signs of changing ag- suming units are dominated from hay import-
gregate conditions that may by cattle, mainly grazing and ing countries. In
allow for some expansion to then dairy animals. Sever- part, high prices seem to have up in continued changes to the
begin. The largest change is al years in a row of declining slowed trade, meaning more price slide across feeder cattle
probably on the range and units means less demand for tons are available in the do- weight classes and the price
pasture side where the latest feed, particularly for forage. mestic market. Regionally, the spread between steers and
conditions show much higher The grain consuming units corn crop has a high level of heifers. The expected price
percentages in the continental are spread across hogs and variability. There have been of corn is much lower than a
U.S. in good or excellent com- poultry, then cattle feedlots. anecdotes of low grain yields year ago. This has helped sup-
pared to a year ago. There are That index has not changed expected in different areas, port calf prices and made the
also much lower percentages much in recent years. The even though the plant height slide steeper than a year ago.
in very poor or poor relative to high protein index is dominat- is normal. That suggests a The spread would also widen,
last year. While conditions are ed by poultry, and it has been larger than normal amount of reflecting the better gain of
subjective, their consistency increasing slightly in recent corn may be switched to silage steers over heifers. However, if
and direction would be con- years. Thus, pasture demand production. This can result feed availability improves and
sidered an improvement. The has gone down, but demand in substantial tons of forage, costs fall, then cow-calf pro-
reduction in inventory levels for other feed has been con- albeit at lower energy levels ducers may look favorably on
has also meant less demand stant when aggregated across than if the grain production heifers as replacements, which
on the pastures. In general, other livestock. was normal. Distillers’ grains could narrow the spread.
The hay sit- will likely make up any ration
uation has im- needs.
proved from a The most obvious impact of
buyer’s perspec- changing feed prices will show
tive. Production is
up sharply from
a year ago, miti-
gating a slightly setting the standard
30 YEARS
tighter old stocks 30 YEARS
situation. Thus, for over
supply is larger.
Fewer roughage HUMANE BLOODLESS DRUG FREE

WHAT MAKES A should be met. A 50 lb. bag of
continued from page 24 mineral with a target intake
of a single mineral, and it is of 3 oz should last 30 cows for
impossible to tell from a min- about 8 days.
eral tag alone how much of Remember that what
the mineral is being supplied might make a good mineral
from each source. This infor- for a producer in the west-
mation can be gained by ask- ern United States may not be
ing your feed dealer or nutri- the best option for a producer
tionist. in the Southeast. Also, spe-
Consider what else can be cific mineral needs or addi-
provided in the mineral sup- tive needs may change with
plement. The mineral can the time of year and stage
effectively deliver feed ad- of production. For example,
ditives such as ionophores, it is recommended that lac-
ingredients to manage flies tating cows at risk of devel-
or antibiotics. The efficacy of oping grass tetany consume
a high-magnesium mineral.
these added ingredients and
the mineral supplementation For help understanding the
mineral requirements of cat-
program relies heavily on
mineral intake. All mineral tle in your local area and to CASTRATION MADE EASY
discuss what a “good” min-
supplements are formulated
to be consumed at a target eral looks like for your herd, CallicrateBanders.com
reach out to your local Exten-
rate. For free-choice supple-
ments, this is typically 2-4 sion office. 785-332-3344
ounces. For a good mineral 800-858-5974
to work well, target intakes