Industry At A Glance: Feeder Cattle Regional Price Differences

Locationis a key factor in driving the price that producers receive for feeder cattle.

Nevil Speer

August 7, 2013

2 Min Read
Industry At A Glance: Feeder Cattle Regional Price Differences

A multitude of factors drive the price that producers receive for feeder cattle on any given day. Some of the more important drivers include deferred fed cattle futures, the price of corn, and forage availability. However, location is also a key factor: price variance stems from general differences in marketing structure across regions, the type and kind of cattle supply within a region, subsequent load-lot assembly costs, and the freight requirement to move cattle from one region to another.  

The graph below reflects annual price differences across some key generalized regions in the U.S. The data utilized to develop the illustration is adapted from the USDA:NASS monthly steer and heifer average price received within each respective state. This analysis includes only those states which have full data across all months and year; the data is available only through 2010.

The analysis then aggregated to show results across the respective regional categories (defined with no specific standards or guidelines). Price differences are presented as deviations from the Central Plains feeder cattle market, which is comprised of key feeding states, including Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

regional feeder cattle price differences

Not surprisingly, feeder cattle sourced from the North-Central region claim the best prices. That likely reflects generally favorable perceptions among buyers regarding cattle genetics and ability to readily purchase ranch-sourced, load-lots of feeder cattle. Meanwhile, cattle from the West and Corn Belt regions have remained relatively steady behind the Central Plains market – the difference largely reflects freight costs associated with transport to the primary feeding states.

Most interesting and somewhat difficult to explain, though, is the dynamic, variable pattern for the Southeast region. The Southeast represents a readily available, continuous source of feeder cattle throughout the year. As such, perhaps the Southeast, more than any other region, reflects general trends within the market. In other words, the more erratic Southeast price trend might reflect amplification of broader market sentiment from year to year. That is, market bullishness results in strong demand with the Southeast filling in the gap, thereby driving up prices in the region. Conversely, an unfriendly market penalizes Southeastern cattle more sharply than other regions.

Most of us likely have some general perceptions about price variation across the U.S. How do these trends match your general view of the feeder cattle market? Leave your thoughts below.

 

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About the Author

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].

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