Source: Derrell Peel,  Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV., MEATINGPLACE, 9/30/14


(This article is republished in its entirety with the author’s permission.) 

Beef demand has been a pleasant surprise so far this year.

Wholesale and retail beef prices have increased fast enough to maintain decent margins for beef packers and allow feedlots profitability for the first three quarters of the year. Retail beef prices are up year over year an average of nearly 11 percent for the year to date through August, with August monthly prices up nearly 17 percent from one year earlier. Boxed beef prices are up an average 21-22 percent for Choice and Select so far this year, with August up 32-34 percent year over year.

High prices aren’t over
Retail prices do not currently reflect all of the wholesale price increase and the coming months will be even more important for beef demand as retail adjustments continue. Moreover, while boxed beef prices have declined in September, the pressure for higher prices is not over.

Total cattle slaughter has been down over 7 percent since the beginning of August with heifer slaughter down nearly 11 percent and cow slaughter down nearly 17 percent.  Each of these continue to push the year to date totals lower with heifer slaughter down 8.8 percent and cow slaughter down 14.6 percent so far this year.

Steer slaughter has been down 1.9 percent since the beginning of August, a slightly smaller decline than the year to date total decrease of 2.9 percent.  More steers in the total slaughter mix (steers represent 2 percent more of total slaughter than last year) combined with heavier steer carcass weights, up 15-20 pounds year over year in recent weeks, have mitigated declining beef production somewhat in recent weeks.

Beef production in August and September was down 5.5 percent, less of a decrease than the year to date total, which is down 6.1 percent.   Limited beef supplies will continue to challenge beef demand.

Competing meats
Competing meats may play a bigger role in late 2014 and into 2015.

Retail pork prices are up over 11 percent so far in 2014 but may be under more pressure in coming months. The latest USDA Hogs and Pigs report indicated that the swine industry is looking to expand production on the heels of record hog prices this year.  Farrowing intentions are up as much as 4 percent in coming months.  For the past 17 months, the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) has resulted in significant piglet mortality to keep 2014 pork production modestly down year over year.

The disease is not controlled and is expected increase this winter but the pork industry is attempting to increase farrowings enough to more than compensate for losses due to the disease.  Pork production is expected to increase year over year in 2015.  Higher pork prices have helped support beef prices in 2014 but may be less help in 2015.

Broiler production has increased modestly in 2014, up less than 2 percent but is poised to increase nearly double that amount in 2015.  Retail broiler prices are up an average 3.3 percent in 2014 including a 5.6 percent year over year increase in August.
Beef prices have shown less sensitivity to poultry prices in 2014 than expected, but abundant poultry supplies will increase the challenge for beef prices to push higher in 2015.

Export factor
The export component of demand will be more important in coming months as well.

The latest trade data for July showed the first signs that beef exports may be beginning to dampen with high prices.  Beef exports in July were down year over year to all major beef destinations except South Korea.  It is not surprising that export demand for U.S. beef is rationed at higher prices but the export market response to even more price pressure in coming months will be very important.

Packer/feedlot margins
Recent declines in boxed beef values have raised concerns that beef demand may have reached a limit, although there is no specific indication of that as yet.  Packer margins turned negative as boxed beef prices have declined more than fed cattle prices.  Feedlots will face increasing breakevens in the fourth quarter due to high feeder cattle purchase prices.  Feedlot margins may turn from profits to losses if fed cattle prices are unable to increase.

If beef demand is limited, the packer and feedlot margin squeezes could persist as part of the lengthy process of the beef industry adjusting to a demand-limited size.  Eventually feeder cattle prices would adjust as well but it would likely take several months.

A more likely scenario is that demand will continue to grind higher but perhaps at a slower pace than in the first half of 2014.  Packers and feedlots may face more margin squeeze as limited input supplies push input costs up faster than output prices are able to increase.  As it has been for many months and even more so in the coming months, beef demand is the key.

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