🤔 Are you keeping heifers?

Millennials and Meat, Sustainability McPartnership, and Beef is Best from Ranching.com by CattleMax

November 20, 2024

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NEWS

🛑 Heifers on Hold

🛑 Heifers on Hold - Despite some individual producers retaining heifers, overall data shows no sign of herd rebuilding. Auction receipts are down, and heifers make up only 42% of receipts in 2024, suggesting retention is limited, further delayed by drought conditions.

📈 Third Quarter Exports - U.S. beef exports grew 3.6% in September, with Japan leading the market, up 8.4%. However, exports to China/Hong Kong dropped. Beef imports surged 23% in September, with Canada, Australia, and Brazil seeing significant increases.

🌎 Sustainability McPartnership - McDonald's, Lopez Foods, and Syngenta are collaborating to improve feed efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in beef production. By using Syngenta's Enogen® corn, the partnership aims to enhance sustainability, saving water, energy, and land while reducing emissions.

🍗 Millennials and Meat - U.S. consumers are shifting meat purchases, with 76% altering buying habits. Beef remains popular, but younger generations prefer chicken, ground meat, and convenience items. Quality, price, and packaging are top factors influencing decisions, particularly for Millennials and Gen Z.

♻️ Climate Solutions, Not Culprits - Elanco Animal Health is advancing its sustainability strategy with new innovations like the FDA-approved combination feeding of Experior and MGA for heifers, reducing ammonia emissions. Elanco advocates for shifting the narrative, highlighting livestock as part of the climate solution.

🍔 Beef is Best - Recent studies published in Nutrients highlight beef’s role in closing nutrient gaps for adolescents, pregnant women, and older adults. Regular beef consumption helps improve intake of essential nutrients, supporting better health outcomes in these vulnerable populations.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Feed Smarter, Not Harder

In this episode of Casual Cattle Conversations, Aaron Berger discusses the importance of reassessing feeding strategies in today’s economic environment. He highlights the costs of feed waste and encourages cattle producers to evaluate their systems, reduce waste, and explore new ideas to maximize efficiency and minimize expenses, especially as winter approaches.

Replacement Female Market

The USDA's October report shows heifers make up 40% of cattle on feed, signaling limited herd rebuilding. While replacement female prices rose in 2024, overall sales volumes declined, reflecting a smaller national cow herd.

RANCHING AROUND THE WORLD RECAP

🇨🇦 Cow herd recovery remains elusive [Canadian Cattlemen]

CATTLE COMMUNITY
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
❝

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk."

Mark Zuckerberg

READER POLL

Many national restaurant chains are taking steps to show consumers their priorities, whether ethical, environmental, political or otherwise. Do you consider these priorities when deciding where to spend your food dollars?

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LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

What are per-acre agricultural/pastureland prices in your area?

49.5%: <$5,000

21.1%: $5,000-$10,000

16.5%: $10,000-$20,000

12.9%: >$20,000

THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS
<$5,000

  • “Marginal land away from urban centers is in this category.”

  • “We use an AUM basis in our area, which is $25-30/aum.”

>$20,000

  • “COVID killed agriculture in our area.”