Beefmaster Cattle For The Win In South Dakota

It’s the Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and our crew as we hear how Beefmaster cattle are fixing the problems for one South Dakota cow calf producer. Plus, news from beef country you need to hear, feeder cattle sale reports and upcoming sales you don’t want to miss, all 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.

Beefmaster Cattle Work For South Dakota Rancher

South Dakota ranchers Dan & Jessie Hotchkiss were disappointed in weaning weights and calf health in the fall. After trying several different breeds of bulls on their Angus base cowherd, they decided to try Beefmaster bulls from ISA Beefmasters and have never looked back.

Beefmaster is a breed that was developed in the 1930’s by Tom Lasater in South Texas to maximize economic traits like hardiness, fertility, adaptability, and weight. The breed consists of approximately 50% Brahman, 25% Hereford and 25% Shorthorn.

Beef Cattle News Beef Imports: Facts Behind the 300,000-Metric-Ton Plan

Recent plans to allow up to 300,000 metric tons, or 661 million pounds, of additional beef imports into the U.S. tariff-free have created plenty of attention—and misinformation.

According to Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, the U.S. has imported beef for decades, mainly to supply lean beef used in ground beef products. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico have been major suppliers, while Brazil has recently grown into the number-two source.

Beef imports are up 12.9 percent so far in 2026, as domestic beef production continues to decline.

About 68 percent of imported beef is lean trimmings used as ingredients in ground beef, especially for fast-food restaurants. Imported beef now makes up an estimated 39 percent of the beef used in ground beef production.

Brazil is expected to benefit the most from the tariff changes. However, experts say the U.S. is unlikely to import the full additional 300,000 metric tons.

The policy may shift where imports come from, with South American countries gaining market share. But the increase in total imports is expected to be smaller than the announced amount.

And when it comes to grocery store ground beef prices, the impact is expected to be limited.

REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/peel-understanding-beef-imports/ 

Cattle Prices Rise, But Packer Margins Keep Growing

Cattle prices moved higher last week, but beef packer profits continued to rise.

According to Sterling Marketing’s Beef Profit Tracker, the average packer margin for the week ending September 12 was $177.16 per head. That’s up from $170.76 the previous week.

Steady beef cutout values and a $2-per-head increase in drop credit helped support packer margins. Slaughter was down 21,000 head, mainly because of the Labor Day holiday.

The average five-area direct fed steer price rose to $222.82 per hundredweight, up from $219.04 the week before.

That helped reduce feedlot losses. Feedlots lost an estimated $307.19 per head, compared with nearly $329 the previous week.

Feeder cattle prices also moved higher, gaining nearly $7 per hundredweight the week ending September 11th.

REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/beef-packer-margins-gain-despite-bump-in-cattle-price/

Tyson Reshapes Beef Business as Cattle Supplies Remain Tight

Tyson Foods says its smaller beef processing network will help the company manage tight cattle supplies and prepare for the future.

Chief Financial Officer Curt Calaway recently said cattle herd rebuilding is happening, but more slowly than in some p