LUBBOCK, TX (RFD NEWS) — Cattle and hog by-product values have climbed sharply, adding support to livestock markets beyond the value of meat cuts. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist David Anderson says cattle by-product values are at their highest level since January 2023, while hog by-products are at their highest since January 2024.
Cattle hide and offal values rose from $12.32 to $14.35 per hundredweight over the past two months. Anderson says prices for honeycomb tripe and liver have more than doubled since last year.
Reduced slaughter is part of the reason. Fewer cattle moving through packing plants means fewer hides, organs, and other by-products available. Exports are also helping, with first-quarter cattle variety meat export volume up 14.1 percent.
Hog by-product values are about 16 percent higher than a year ago. Lard, choice white grease, snouts, and other items have gained value.
Anderson explains that by-products are a bright spot in the livestock trade this year.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Stronger by-product values can support cattle and hog returns, especially when export demand offsets tighter supplies.
Tony St. James RFD News Markets Specialist
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese is using cattle waste to help power its dairy operation and cheese production.
Analysts say drought, tight cattle supplies and summer grilling demand continue shaping the protein market outlook.
New data from ag-tech company Bushel suggests younger producers are beginning to play a larger role in farm decision-making across the country.
CECU President and CEO Jason Altmire discusses rural workforce shortages, technical skills, and why hands-on labor remains critical despite AI growth.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says senators are trying to align the E15 effort with broader Farm Bill negotiations as producers continue grappling with weak farm income and elevated costs.
Soybeans accounted for nearly half of the $15 billion in losses on U.S. ag exports to China due to tariffs, according to researchers at North Dakota State University.
