Trends . . . STEER  AND  HEIFER  WEIGHTS  STILL  BELOW  A  YEAR  AGO

      Steer and heifer weights are rather seasonal in nature, as dressed weights modestly increase during the summer, peak in the fall and gradually decline through the winter months before hitting a seasonal low during the spring.  This year is no exception; however, the seasonal increase in steer and heifer weights has not been as strong this summer relative to prior years and weights still remain well below a year ago.  This is not only a continuation of the results from last winter’s severe weather, but also the extreme heat and humidity during late July and early August.

CANADIAN  INVENTORY  UPDATE

Last week, Statistics Canada released the July 1 Cattle and Hog Inventory numbers which reported the total number of cattle and hogs continued to decline relative to prior years.  According to Statistics Canada, the Canadian cattle herd has been in a steady decline since its peak in 2005.  Additionally, hog numbers continue to decline, but the year-over-year rate of decline in hog numbers has moderated this year.  The continued decline in Canadian cattle and hog numbers is the result of a number factors including higher feed costs, economic uncertainty in the domestic and global markets, and continued impacts from COOL legislation in those provinces that rely on exports (mostly of hogs) to the U.S.

MILK  PRODUCTION

On August 18, 2010, USDA-NASS released the July Milk Production report, which reported milk production at 15.3 billion pounds for the 23 major states, a three percent increase from last year.  In July, production per cow for the 23 major states averaged 1830 pounds, a 59 pound increase above July 2009 and eight percent higher than the 2004-2008 average.