TheBeefSite Newsletter - 25 July 2012

TheBeefSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 25th July 2012

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Feed Prices - How High Can They Go?

With feed costs accounting for 50 to 70 per cent of livestock production costs, the livestock industry is quite rightly concerned about rising corn and grain prices.

Dr Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension grains marketing economist expects a strong push back on the use of corn, due to the record high prices.

The drought in the Midwest may not only be influencing feed prices, Dr David Anderson, Texas AgriLife Extension livestock marketing economist suggests that Nebraska could soon eclipse Texas in the numbers of cattle on feed.

Drought has left calves with no place to go, but the feedlots, at lower prices, he says.

In the June US Department of Agriculture cattle on feed report, Nebraska had 385,000 placements and Texas had 420,000 head.

The global feed industry has also expressed concerns about rising feed and food costs, saying that the increased use of grains and oilseeds for biofuels has put increasing pressure on feed manufacturers worldwide and higher prices for consumers.

A report released last week by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) said that biofuels, global demand, specific exports and annual crop yields were key drivers impacting feed availability.

Whilst livestock producers are currently struggling due to drought and poor weather conditions in Europe, the report warns that in the long-term, the livestock industry must keep an eye on things such as China's demand for not only corn and soybeans but also the development of biobutanol and the potential growth in production of de-oiled distillers grains.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

EU Cattle Prices Strong as Output Declines
European cattle prices have increased strongly to date in 2012 with prices more than 12 per cent higher at 381c/kg, according to Peter Duggan from the Strategic Information Services at Bord Bia-Irish Food Board.

New Programme to Control IBR
An outbreak of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis in dairy cattle in the UK could cost producers around two litres of milk per cow per day or the equivalent of about £180 in a year, writes Chris Harris, Editor in Chief.

Crossbred Bull Fix
A good crossbreeding programme takes some background in genetics, a big enough herd and land base, good bull suppliers and time to figure all that out. Producers looking for a simpler route to heterosis often opt to use a composite bull, writes Miranda Reiman for Certified Angus Beef.

Tips for Strategic Culling, Cow Body Condition Scoring and Replacement Selection
High supplemental feed costs and persistent drought in some areas, should motivate producers to evaluate their feed resources and management plans heading into the fall and winter months, writes Bob Weaber, a Cow-Calf Extension Specialist at Kansas State University.

Market Reports

» UK Slaughter Statistics - July 2012
» USDA Livestock Slaughter - July 2012
» Irish CSO Reports Meat Supply Balance - July 2012
» USDA Cattle on Feed - July 2012
» USDA Cattle - July 2012

Company News

Best-Selling Authors Unveiled as Guest Speakers at the World Nutrition Forum 2012
SINGAPORE - International best-selling author, John Naisbitt, and the Director of the Naisbitt China Institute in Tianjin, Doris Naisbitt, will deliver their guest speech on Day One of the 5th World Nutrition Forum in Singapore.

National All Breeds Secures 3-Year Sponsor
UK - Pfizer Animal Health is the new main sponsor of the National All Breeds Show, being staged at Livestock 2012 on 4-5 September at the National Exhibition Centre.

Global Beef Cattle Industry News