Heavier Cattle Hit the Market

Lower feed costs may encourage feedlots to keep cattle longer, resulting in heavier carcass weights. “They’re putting on enough weight to amount to the equivalent of about 20,000-to-25,000 more head per week,” said Tim Petry, livestock economist, North Dakota State University Extension. Petry notes that beef production is on pace to match last year, which explains why cattle prices are expected to remain firm.