Livestock Marketing Information Center
In The Cattle Markets
Updated: 1/20/2025
Headcounts aren’t everything: Understanding the full impact of cattle inventories
The January 31st USDA Cattle Inventory Report may be the most anticipated report of the year, especially since the July Inventory Report has been eliminated. The January report will provide headcounts of all major classes of cattle, including heifers kept as replacements, which may indicate producer intentions to rebuild the national cow herd.
Livestock Monitor
Updated: 1/17/2025
STRONG START FOR HOG PRICES
Hog prices have started 2025 on a strong note compared to the start of 2024. During the first two weeks of 2025, early weaned pig (10-12 lbs.) prices are tracking more than $40 per head above 2024 at just above $80 per head, which is more than double what prices were at this time last year. Compared to the five-year average, early weaned feeder pig prices are tracking more than $20 per head higher.
TRADE UPDATE
Last Friday, the USDA ERS released November 2024 livestock and meat trade data. Imports of beef continued to climb into the end of 2024 with November observing a +39.3% year-over-year increase, bringing accumulated beef imports for the year to 4.2 billion pounds (+23.9%). Key contributors to November’s gains were Brazil (+275.5%), Australia (+50%), and Uruguay (+179.6%), their respective year-to-date imports at 657, 984, and 284 million pounds. Canadian beef imports fell -8.7% in November and remain flat year to date at 925 million pounds.
GROCERY STORE BEEF PRICE UP SLIGHTLY IN DECEMBER
The measure of beef prices in the fresh meat case increased by a fraction of a percent in December, following a slight decline in November. December fresh beef prices were about the same as in October but were down close to two percent from the record highs of September. The All-Fresh average beef price for December was $8.078 per pound, according to USDA-Economic Research Service (ERS). This compares to $4.883 for average pork prices and $2.434 for chicken.
Livestock Monitor pdf