NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — The market is eager for today’s Cattle-on-Feed report, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to release on Friday afternoon, but private estimates are already out. Traders tell us they believe the actual numbers for March will be friendly.
A Reuters survey shows on-feed estimates at 99.3 percent at the start of the month, up from 98.2 percent the previous month. February placements are estimated at 100.2 percent, compared to last month’s 92.2 percent. And looking at marketing, they’re also projected to rise, with industry estimates there at 92.6 percent. Last month’s report showed marketing at 87 percent.
“So, there’s a lot of variation on the estimates in the placements number, and that’s where probably a surprise could come from,” explains Brian Hoops, president of Midwest Market Solutions. “We do expect to see on-feed numbers tighter than a year ago for at least a couple more months — and then maybe we’ll start to see a little bit of expansion and a little bit bigger size — but we’ll see what that report says. I think it’s going to be somewhat friendly.”
Welcome news for the industry with a lot going on at the moment — drought and feed shortages in Texas, devastating wildfires across the Southern Plains and Nebraska Sandhills...and of course, multiple cattle health issues requiring careful preparedness.
New World Screwworm
Right now in cattle country, experts are sounding the alarm on the growing threat of insect-borne diseases, specifically, the New World Screwworm. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Kathy Simmons, says it is clear that the impending threat of screwworm in Mexico is not a short-term issue.
“We have a problem for the beef cattle industry,” Dr. Simmons said. “I think in the next decade, we’re going to see problems with these vector-borne diseases. These diseases and problems that come from insect vectors are carriers of the problem. So, we have to look at not only what we always like, which is a silver bullet — we like a vaccine, or we like an antibiotic, or we like something that we can give — and the problem’s over. I think with a lot of these diseases, it becomes a mixture of treatment, management, and control of these insect vectors. I think that’s what we’re going to have to look at, and we’re going to have to really, really do things a little differently than we’ve done before.”
NCBA advocates for innovative solutions to combat the pest but says sterile flies remain central to eradication efforts. Dr. Simmons urges producers to have a plan and be prepared.
“So you say, ‘Well, how are we going to manage cattle differently?’ We have to look at when these animals are going to be at greatest risk for myiasis,” she explains. “When the flies are actually laying the eggs, the eggs are developing into larvae, the larvae are eating the living tissue, and creating the inflammatory infection that in young animals can often result [in death]. Even older animals, if they are large enough, result in death in seven to 14 days.” Simmons says one of the biggest hurdles that cattle producers face is simply keeping eyes on cattle. It can be difficult if your herd is large and you lack manpower.
“We’re going to have to have increased surveillance,” she said. “We’re going to have to look at these animals every day. So, you can either go out and ride and look at them, or you can use some technologies — drones, game cameras, detecting dogs. We have New World Screwworm-detecting dogs now that are being trained. Also, you can change your management practices to decrease the risk of the flies being laid.”
Asian Longhorned Tick
Another top-of-mind threat in cattle country is the Asian longhorned tick. Oklahoma State Extension Veterinarian Dr. Rosslyn Biggs says this species brings added risk.
“The concern we have with the Asian longhorned tick is, of course, it’s a new tick species,” Biggs explains. “It is capable of carrying a variety of pathogens or infectious agents we would be familiar with here that our more native tick species can carry. But in particular, the Asian longhorned tick is associated with another parasite, Theileria Orientalis Ikeda, and this Theileria agent is one that, for our cattlemen listening, it’s going to look like anaplas [ma marginale], but it has some real significant differences there.”
Dr. Biggs says there is no treatment for the disease associated with the Asian longhorn tick. She urges producers to take precautions when bringing in new animals, especially from infected regions.
“We’re trying to monitor this. We’ve had a study that’s ongoing, wrapping up those results here this spring,” Biggs said. “Hope to have those out in the coming months. And so, with that, I cannot spoil the fun. Initially, we’ve not seen any Asian longhorn ticks identified from the Oklahoma operations that participated in that, but we have seen some of the Theileria orientalis Ikeda. And so it is going to be one of those things that producers need to be aware of, have it on the scope, and be looking out for challenges associated with it.”
Biggs stressed that preparation and strong veterinary relationships are key to managing emerging threats like this one.
New Resources for Biosecurity
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is rolling out a new grant program to help fight emerging threats to the nation’s food supply.
The grant opportunity, Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems, will fund researchers and extension professionals working to combat fast-moving pests and diseases that impact crops and livestock.
The program is designed to move more quickly than traditional funding, focusing on threats identified within the past six months. Funding will support early detection, diagnostic tools, and on-the-ground support for farmers and ranchers.
