Farm Director KC Sheperd is back talking with Bob Rodenberger, a Stockman Oklahoma Livestock Marketing partner, as he gives the latest on the cattle markets.
Producers in the Apache area received a half inch to an inch of much needed rain this week, and it appears the rest of the state got variable amount, too.
“It is well-needed on the wheat we have left,” Rodenberger said. “It was needing a drink of water to carry these cattle on into the end of April, first of May, which its already here, but it will be a benefit for them to be able to graze those cattle a little longer.”
Cattle futures tumbled yesterday with tariff discussions, but according to Rodenberger, cash trade stayed strong. “We had a couple of sets of real nice home-raised cattle there on Thursday, and they wouldn’t have brought any more Monday,” Rodenberger said. “Monday’s market, they might have called it a little softer in places, but in general, on the better cattle that they have been comparing the market to, it is still a seller’s market. It has not affected us like it did the board.”
According to Rodenberger, with rain currently seeping into the ground, once peace is made with tariffs, all will be bright in the cattle markets.
Runs have been lighter this week, possibly due to muddy pastures and possibly due to contraction in the cattle herd as Rodenberger has yet to notice herd rebuilding on any significant scale.
Salvage values for cull cows are so good that people aren’t thinking very long about whether or not to haul the cow to market.
