Shifting dynamics in the wholesale market translate to changing prices in the live cattle market.

Nevil Speer

June 15, 2015

2 Min Read
Industry At A Glance: How shifting dynamics affect the spot vs. comprehensive market for Choice boxed beef

The theme this spring for Industry At A Glance has been a focus on some of the shifting dynamics within the market. Specifically, we’ve focused on items such as price volatility, shifting basis, captive supply, packer margins and the increasing portion of non-negotiated boxed beef sales. With the wholesale market in mind, this week’s column highlights weekly differences between the spot versus the comprehensive price for the Choice cutout as quoted by USDA.  

The trendline in the graph represents a 26-week moving average going back to 2003. That trendline began to change in 2014 when beef demand remained extremely strong through the summer, creating pull for the product. While spot prices continued to surge through the summer, the comprehensive cutout was dragged down by prior commitments at lower prices. As such, the spot price outpaced the comprehensive quote through the summer and the running average peaked in August.  

weekly choice spot cutout

That average has since declined and now is in line with longer-run expectations. Of special interest is the change in price difference between January 2014 and January 2015. The Choice cutout spot price exceeded the comprehensive price by nearly $12 in 2014 – that relationship inverted to negative $4 in 2015. The turnaround is striking given that beef demand remains strong in 2015. Clearly, price differences have since normalized with fewer weekly spikes during the past several months. 

Nevertheless, it’s clear that market participants are trying to adjust to shifting dynamics within the beef complex – hence, this week’s feature and the price difference outlined in the graph. It points to broader implications of sharp and unprecedented shifts that can occur within the beef complex. Seemingly, the industry continues to be in uncharted territory that began in earnest in 2010.

Within that broader discussion, how do you perceive what’s occurring within the beef industry from a broader perspective? Where do you see the business headed in the years to come in terms of volatility and uncertainty? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.      

Nevil Speer is based in Bowling Green, Ky., and serves as vice president of U.S. operations for AgriClear, Inc. – a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMX Group Limited.  The views and opinions of the author expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the TMX Group Limited and Natural Gas Exchange Inc.

 

You might also like:

60 stunning photos that showcase ranch work ethics

7 tools to win the war against cattle flies

Is agriculture the bad boy in the nation's water use?

Proper timing & products needed for deworming pasture cattle

21 ATV UTV and side-by-side units for 2015

How to prevent foot rot In cattle

Profit per cow or per acre? Burke Teichert weighs in

About the Author(s)

Nevil Speer

Nevil Speer serves as an industry consultant and is based in Bowling Green, KY.

Nevil Speer has extensive experience and involvement with the livestock and food industry including various service and consultation projects spanning such issues as market competition, business and economic implications of agroterrorism, animal identification, assessment of price risk and market volatility on the producer segment, and usage of antibiotics in animal agriculture.
 
Dr. Speer writes about many aspects regarding agriculture and the food industry with regular contribution to BEEF and Feedstuffs.  He’s also written several influential industry white papers dealing with issues such as changing business dynamics in the beef complex, producer decision-making, and country-of-origin labeling.
 
He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Animal Agriculture.
 
Dr. Speer holds both a PhD in Animal Science and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Contact him at [email protected].

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
BEEF Magazine is the source for beef production, management and market news.

You May Also Like