May 20, 2013
CATTLE MARKET REPORT AND ANALYSIS
THE MARKETS
CATTLE ON FEED
Numbers USDA's Average Range 2013 2012 estimated of analysts' of analysts' % of prev yr estimates estimates On-feed May 1 10.735M 11.110M 97 96.3 95.0- 98.0 Placed in April 1.750M 1.521M 115 112.1 104.9-122.0 Marketed in April 1.855M 1.815M 102 102.9 100.0-104.1
Cattle on feed numbers were slightly off from forecast with placements 3% over average guesses and on feed .7% higher than average guesses. The report is expected to have little impact on futures next week. Futures traders, expecting a bearish report, sold both feeder and live cattle futures lower prior to the report's release. The bearish placement number was higher than the prior year placement number, but lower than April placements two years ago.
Packers will enter this week with smaller inventories than the past few weeks. Sellers resisted any further declines in cash prices all coming at their expense. The range of selling prices last week reflected their reluctance to sell cattle lower while beef sets record highs every day. Cattle sold from a low of $125 south of Amarillo to a high of $126.50 in Nebraska and Colorado. In the beef sales were mostly at $201-2 in the north.
The most likely scenario for this week is futures rising towards cash prices rather than cash suffering further declines. Asking prices will be back at $128 and feeders will continue to pull cattle forward from June marketing intentions.
The spring rally in beef demand is in full swing. Beef is finding some help from competing meats. Chicken breasts have risen 30% since April. Pork has moved to a 9 month high. Boxed beef prices are moving higher accompanied by larger slaughter rates. Choice cut out was $1 higher at $209 and select at $192. The choice/select spread has widened to $17.
Offerings of heavy feeder cattle were the prominent feature of Friday's video feeder auction. Eight and nine weight feeder cattle sold at steep discounts to May futures and summer offerings also sold well under the August feeder board. Eight weight steers sold in the mid to low $120s and nine weight steers in the high teens. Many lots were passed out leaving these cattle back on the market from a different direction. A 750# steer was selling for $132 on the southern plains.
Corn futures traders continue to spread the corn contract months buying the old crop months and selling the new crop months. Planting rates continue at record breaking levels. Many farmers are planting with GPS guidance and tractors and planters are in the field 24 hours a day and the time required for planting is a small fraction of the time it took 10 years ago. Corn cost into most rations in the south is currently at $13.50 cwt.. Corn prices are now priced off the July board with a basis of $1.00 a bushel for Guymon Oklahoma.
THE BASIS
The basis is simply a relationship between cash prices and the futures prices. It is not a fixed number. The cash market is determined every day and week in various transactions occurring between processors and cattle owners. The futures market is determined between buyers and sellers of futures contracts on the exchange. In the cattle complex some individuals or companies may trade in both markets. The futures prices can influence the cash markets and the cash markets can influence the futures markets but neither is determinative of the other.
A study of historic basis relationships for cattle sold in May to the June futures reveals a wide range of numbers from flat to a $8 premium to the June futures. Both cattle owners and beef processors tend to look at the historical averages and base forward contracts off those averages. Forwards contracts set a basis and can set a price but usually those transactions consummate with the actual delivery period for the cattle prior to the expiration of the contract. In the current environment a processor with a May contract at $2-3 over the June board would jump at the opportunity to quickly pull the forward contracts ending the trade resulting in cattle purchased well under the prevailing cash market.
Some people believe the basis only pertains to hedged feeders. June futures will influence cash trade for all cattle owners whether hedged or not. The logic is simply. Do you want to sell your cattle now for $125-126 or wait until June and sell them for $120. In a more obvious trade, why not sell cattle now that are destined for a June market slot and capture a $5-6 cwt. premium and replace those cattle with a June live cattle contract[s]. This swap would leave the cattle feeder with an extra $60/head in their pocket.
Some bankers frown on the latter strategy and margin stressed cattle owners might be happy to accept the sell early strategy. The feeding of beta agonists complicates the decision to sell early but there is some evidence that some formula sellers and open market sellers have chosen to move forward the marketing of June cattle. The chart shows carcass weights that have consistently been well above last year now closing to the 2012 number. This tonnage reduction combined with less numbers might improve the beef situation for summer months.
Bull cattle markets are generally created when market participants have given up on the market. This give up mode translates into weak sellers and large processor margins. Large processor margins leads to larger slaughter numbers and more beef moved pulling cattle through the pipeline -- much healthier than pushing them through. In the meantime, packers encouraged by improving demand slaughtered 652,000 cattle this past week -- a high for the year.
LIVE BID WEBPAGE
FEEDER MATRIX
The Cattle Report introduces the FEEDER METER. The report estimates profit or loss for currently purchased feeder steers and projects a result 150 days out. The chart is interactive and updated every 15 minutes in real time based on changes in futures markets in grain and cattle. Corn basis information is based on current trade prices adjusted every two weeks. Feeder prices and fed cattle sales are par the appropriate futures contract.
CURRENT CLOSE OUT
The Cattle Report estimates current profit or loss on cattle placed on feed 150 days ago. This report generated from industry averages attempts to simulate a typical close out based on prevailing purchase prices for a feeder steer 150 days ago. The close out assumes grain was purchased at market each month. Selling prices and interest rates are based on prevailing benchmark quoted prices. This chart will change weekly.
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