Friday On The Farm - Let's Talk Cattle Markets

This Friday On The Farm is going to have a different format than our typical farm updates! Today, I want to discuss something that directly affects our business and the beef you enjoy—the cattle markets.

 

Cattle prices are largely determined by the Chicago Board of Trade, where contracts for both feeder cattle and live cattle are bought and sold. Feeder cattle are young, weaned calves that are ready to be raised to market weight, while live cattle are fully grown and finished, ready for processing into beef. Right now, feeder cattle prices are at an all-time high, which has a direct impact on our costs as cattle producers.

 

Even though we raise our own beef, we still purchase calves at weaning—either from our own farm or from our trusted partner rancher—and the price we pay is set by the commodity markets. That means when feeder cattle prices rise, our input costs rise, too. Unlike other ranchers who sell their cattle to feedlots or packers, we take those calves and finish them ourselves, ensuring they receive the best care and nutrition before being processed into the high-quality beef we’re known for. But no matter how efficient our operation is, we are still impacted by the rising costs of purchasing cattle, making it more expensive to produce the premium Nebraska beef we take pride in delivering to you.

 

While the market continues to fluctuate, one thing remains the same—our commitment to raising high-quality Nebraska beef the right way. We continue to dry-age our beef for exceptional flavor, hand-cut every steak, and ship directly from our farm to your door. We are grateful for your continued support because it allows us to keep doing what we love—raising cattle with care and providing you with the best beef possible. 

 

Thank you for being part of our farm family!

A chart showing the price increase of cattle since January 2010. Source

 

Another shoutout to everyone who shopped for their Valentines' gifts at Oak Barn Beef. Your support means the world to us, and we hope they love their gifts.