Cattle News, Market Reports, Ranch Jobs & More

It’s the Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they hear the latest cattle industry news, market reports, the ranch channel sales calendar and some elite ranch jobs available and lots more wrapped in this new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.

Cattle Market Reports

Recent cattle markets dipped following increased imports of beef and the latest cattle on feed report. Listen in for the latest.

Beef Cattle News Beef Cow Culling Falls To Record Low, But Herd Rebuilding Remains Slow

The U.S. beef cow herd is showing signs of stabilization, but rebuilding is still taking time.

According to livestock economist Derrell Peel, beef cow culling is expected to fall to a record low of 7.35% this year. That's down from a record high of 13.19% in 2022. Beef cow slaughter is also expected to be down more than 48% compared to 2022.

However, producers have been slow to hold back replacement heifers.

USDA reported an increase of just over 41,000 replacement heifers in January and 100,000 in July.

Peel says at least 200,000 additional replacement heifers may be needed next year just to maintain the current cow herd.

There are some encouraging signs. Heifer slaughter was down more than 11% during the first nine months of the year, suggesting more producers may finally be holding back heifers for breeding.

REFERENCE: https://www.dvbeefwire.com/u-s-cattle-report

New World Screwworm Cases Jump Sharply In October

New World screwworm cases increased sharply in October.

According to USDA data, there were 35 confirmed animal infestations in October, compared to just three in September.

The outbreak has continued into November, with 11 additional cases reported since Sunday. That brings the total to 90 confirmed cases across Texas, New Mexico and Arizona since June.

Of those cases, 33 remain active and 57 are inactive.

Recent detections include cattle in Brewster and Zapata counties in Texas, cattle in Catron County, New Mexico, and a horse in Cochise County, Arizona.

USDA has also confirmed five wild screwworm fly detections through its trapping program, including four during October.

Animal movement restrictions remain in place in affected areas as officials work to contain the parasite and protect livestock.

REFERENCE: https://www.dvbeefwire.com/u-s-cattle-report

New Vaccine Could Help Protect Cattle From New World Screwworm

Ranchers may soon have another tool to help protect their cattle from New World screwworm.

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and Medgene are investing nearly $500,000 to develop and test a potential vaccine.

The vaccine is designed to trigger an immune response in cattle that prevents screwworm larvae from feeding on living tissue and completing their life cycle.

Researchers are currently vaccinating cattle and studying the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. If successful, the next step would be field testing.

New World screwworm larvae enter wounds and feed on the living tissue of animals. Without treatment, infestations can cause serious injuries and even death.

Researchers say there is no single solution to stopping screwworm. Protecting livestock will require a combination of prevention, regular monitoring and effective control methods.

A vaccine could be especially helpful for large ranches where cattle are spread across wide areas and checking every animal can be challenging.

The vaccine would also complement existing control efforts, including programs that release sterile flies to reduce screwworm populations.

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