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Fed cattle prices have fallen about 7% over two months amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the five-area average live steer price dropping from $124/cwt in January to about $112 in March. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry said this decline comes at a time when prices normally seasonally rise into spring.
Uncertainty over domestic and international beef demand is cited as a key factor.
Weaker fed cattle prices reduce feeder and calf values and signal softer beef demand, which lowers producer returns and can cut the cattle inventory needed for feedlot and feed-ingredient demand.
lsuagcenter.comMar 25, 2020After 70 past bearish disease events, Live Cattle moved a median +0.0% over 5 sessions (51% higher; middle half -1.7% to +1.0%), and +0.4% over 20.
After 46 past bearish disease events, Feeder Cattle moved a median +0.3% over 5 sessions (54% higher; middle half -2.3% to +1.6%), and +1.8% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
Fed cattle price declines and uncertain domestic and export beef demand feed through to lower feeder cattle values via packer margins and sentiment.
