Oct. 2018 Cattle Projections   Oct. 2018 Profit Projection News:   Native Cattle: Estimated cattle on feed reports continue to climb month over month with this past month being no different. The cattle on feed live cattle marketing report that came up this past Friday was once again up 5% over the past year totaling […]

It is calving season! A lot of calves have already hit the ground. Although we focus on making sure the calf receives a clean and adequate amount of colostrum, cows also need special attention during the transition period (21 days before and 21 days after calving). Fine-tuning during this phase can set up the potential […]

September 17 2018 Hog Feeding Projections Changes week over week: Open-market value of weaned pigs increased modestly (+$1.95/head), while feeder pig values jumped sharply (+$9.45/head). Expected lean hog values jumped moderately for February/March marketings (+$1.79/cwt), but changed little for December/January marketings (+$0.04/cwt). Feed costs-$1.50-1.75 per head: corn -$0.18/bushel, SBM -$11.75/ton, DDGS +$3.75/ton, lysine unchanged, and […]

September 10 2018 Hog Feeding Projections Changes week over week: Open-market value of weaned pigs increased modestly (+$3.41/head), while feeder pig values slipped slightly (-$0.34/head). Expected lean hog values jumped moderately for both February/March and December/January marketings (+$2.94 and +$2.47/cwt, respectively). Feed costs+$0.60-0.70 per head: corn +$0.04/bushel, SBM +$9.00/ton, DDGS +$0.50/ton, lysine unchanged, and fat […]

September 2018 FAF Cattle Feeding Projections Year-to-date domestic production data through the end of last week as compared to 2017: Federally inspected slaughter +2.7%, 22.331 million head Cow slaughter +7.0%, 9.769 million head Carcass weight +0.3%, 812 pounds Beef production +3.0%, 18.125 billion pounds Changes month over month on our feeding projections: Mostly stronger feeder […]

Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome demands our attention because in the past few years, we have seen it increase in occurrence without clearly identifiable reasons. Some call it the “stealth bomber of swine disease.” It strikes suddenly, without warning. It kills quickly, often taking the best pigs. And it frequently leaves the producer wondering what struck his […]

Low milk prices and tighter margins have dairy producers and those exiting the dairy industry looking for alternative sources of income. Feeding dairy steers can be a viable and profitable option to supplement farm income. Dairy operations already possess several assets that make up a successful dairy steer feedlot: a source of bull calves, a […]

Swine Feeding Projections – September 3, 2018 Changes week over week: Open-market value of weaned and feeder pigs were both up moderately (+$4.52 and +$3.41/head, respectively). Expected lean hog values jumped modestly for both January/February and December/January marketings (+$1.07 and +$1.61/cwt, respectively). Feed costs -$1.00 per head: corn -$0.06/bushel, SBM -$2.50/ton, DDGS -$5.00/ton, lysine -$0.17/cwt, […]

“Looking from the outside in, you can never understand it. Standing on the inside looking out, you can never explain it.” This quote has stuck with me throughout the summer. Before joining the Form-A-Feed team this summer as the Marketing Intern, I was just an average customer. As a customer you only see or hear […]

August 27, 2018 Hog Feeding Projections Changes week over week: Open-market value of weaned and feeder pigs were both up modestly (+$1.25 and +$1.59/head, respectively). Expected lean hog values jumped significantly for both January/February and December/January marketings (+$5.92 and +$3.48/cwt, respectively). Feed costs -$0.35-0.60 per head: corn -$0.06/bushel, SBM -$11.75/ton, DDGS +$4.50/ton, lysine unchanged, and […]

August 20 2018 Hog Feeding Projections Changes week over week: • Open-market value of weaned pigs was up modestly (+$3.35/head), but feeder pig values fell substantially (-$6.79/head). • Expected lean hog values jumped significantly for both January/February and November/December marketings (+$5.55 and +$7.17/cwt, respectively). • Feed costs -$0.05-0.20 per head: corn -$0.05/bushel, SBM +$0.50/ton, DDGS […]

Swine Feeding Projections – August 13, 2018 Changes week over week: Open-market value of weaned pigs was down modestly (-$1.34/head), but feeder pig values bounced back moderately (+3.49/head). Expected lean hog values rebounded for both January/February and November/December marketings (+$2.43 and +$2.25/cwt, respectively). Feed costs -$0.80-1.00 per head: corn -$0.12/bushel, SBM -$5.50/ton, DDGS +$4.75/ton, lysine […]