OSU's Derrell Peel Previews 2016 Cattle Market Outloo

With the start of a new year, the cattle markets have made a big transition. From high cattle prices in late 2014 to a severe drop in the second half of 2015.   Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel said the markets showed recovery at the end of the year and this set the stage going into 2016.

 

“We’ve made most of that adjustment, so I don't see that same kind of adjustment happening,” Peel said. “At this point I think we move forward now, you know with the supply and demand conditions that we see out there.”

 

Beef herd expansion was aggressive in 2015. The annual U.S. cattle inventory numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be released on Friday, January 29. Those numbers will confirm just how aggressive herd expansion was this past year. Peel anticipates another strong year of herd expansion in 2016 because of volatility in the cattle market in late 2015. He said that may have tempered expectations, so expansion may be slower than expected. He’s looking for more herd expansion this year in western Oklahoma and west Texas.

 

Video: Selling Rams & Helping New Farmers Begin

It’s shipping day again at Ewetopia Farms as we sell another Suffolk yearling ram! In today’s episode, we load one of our Suffolk rams onto the trailer as he heads off to his new farm to sire the next generation of lambs.

This particular customer has been buying our rams for over eight years, trusting Ewetopia genetics for their gentle temperaments, strong builds, and proven performance. Back home, we get busy looking after the flock that’s staying behind. With the weather turning wet and chilly, it’s time to put down fresh, clean bedding to keep everyone cozy and comfortable for the season ahead. Later, we welcome a wonderful new family who’s just starting out in sheep farming!

They’ve chosen some of our Suffolk ewe lambs to begin their flock — and we couldn’t be happier to help them take their first steps into raising sheep. Stay tuned for a follow-up episode when we help deliver and settle their new flock at their farm.