MARCO ISLAND, FLA. (RFD NEWS) — As producers move into the heart of the fall calf run, cattle market volatility remains a key factor for ranchers deciding when and how to market their calves.
Bailey Ballou, Country Page Manager for Superior Livestock, joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to discuss the summer cattle market, opportunities for producers and marketing options available through Superior.
Summer Cattle Market Reached Significant Highs
Looking back at the summer run, Ballou said the market highs seen early in the summer may stand out as the biggest highlight.
“The market high that we were able to see early in the summer is probably going to be the highlight of the summer for quite some time that we will talk about,” Ballou said.
The market has been volatile, with several ups and downs, but Ballou said the highs reached during the summer were significant.
Volatility Creates Opportunities
With producers beginning to wean calves, Ballou said keeping a close eye on the market is important.
“The best thing that we can do as producers is to keep our finger on the pulse of this market,” he said.
While volatility can create challenges, Ballou said it can also create opportunities for producers to take advantage of market highs through different marketing strategies.
“There is a lot of opportunity to pull, recontact, forward contract some cattle, and take advantage of these highs in these markets that we see from time to time,” he said.
Ballou encouraged producers to stay with their established programs, including their health protocols, while being prepared to move cattle when market opportunities arise.
Consider the Bigger Market Picture
For producers deciding when and how to sell calves, Ballou said it can be easy to overthink the decision.
Although cattle prices are below the levels seen 30 to 45 days earlier, he emphasized that the market remains strong.
“We are still incredibly high,” Ballou said. “There’s a lot of positivity in this market right now.”
He also pointed to strong demand for beef in the United States and around the world, saying demand has been significant for the industry over the last several years.
Marketing Options Can Help Protect Calf Value
Ballou described the calf crop as one of a producer’s most valuable investments and said producers have several marketing options to consider.
Superior sells cattle through video auctions, including cattle contracted for delivery later in the year. Ballou said many cattle were marketed during the summer for fall delivery.
“There is still opportunity to be doing that as we speak,” he said.
He also pointed to other opportunities available to producers, including LRP and additional cattle marketing opportunities.
The key, Ballou said, is recognizing the level of the current market and considering available ways to take advantage of it.
Superior Country Page Offers Another Marketing Option
Ballou also manages Superior’s Country Page, an online marketplace that works alongside the company’s live auctions.
The Country Page features cattle listed from across the country, with buyers able to bid on cattle at their convenience.
“We’ve got everything from calves to bred stock on there and everything in between,” Ballou said.
The marketplace provides buyers and sellers with what Ballou described as a more intimate transaction and a slower pace than a live auction.
He said Superior moved roughly 70,000 cattle through the Country Page during the summer and approximately 150,000 to 160,000 cattle through the marketplace so far this year.
Building Relationships with a Local Representative
For producers interested in learning more about Superior’s marketing options, Ballou encouraged them to visit Superior Livestock’s website and connect with a representative in their area.
He said developing a relationship with someone who knows a producer’s cattle, grasslands and crops can be valuable when determining how to market cattle.
LEARN MORE: superiorlivestock.com
