Page 6 - MWC 9-14-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · September 14, 2023 · P6
Cattle Prices March Higher…

and Higher

By Derrell Peel - Oklahoma State University
weeks, pric- calf crop is 2.5 million head over year since September
es for light- smaller than the recent peak 2022. Cattle slaughter is
weight calves in 2018 and leads to an es- down 3.9 percent so far this
and stockers timated July 1 feeder cattle year, leading to a 4.9 percent
under 600 supply down 3.6 percent year year over year decrease in
pounds have over year and the smallest beef production for the year
Feeder cattle prices have averaged about 45 percent since 2017. Feedlot invento- to date.
increased sharply in 2023. higher year over year, with ries have been smaller year continued on page 7
Figure 1 shows the increase heavier feeder cattle prices
in Oklahoma combined auc- up slightly less, from 37 to 40
tion feeder prices that started percent over last year.
in late 2022. In the last four Cattle prices are trending
higher in
response to
ever tight-
ening cat-
tle and beef
supply fun-
damentals.
The beef cow
herd on Jan-
uary 1, 2023
was the low-
est since
1962 and
is still get-
ting smaller.
The project-
ed 2023 U.S.

* Record prices in red.

Sancrest Trailer Sales
Billings, MO
417-744-2100