Cattle Chatter

Cash cattle are waiting for someone to make the first move, with the South especially quiet. Traders are asking how much of the recent weather and sale barn cancellations are being priced in. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the dynamic of higher replacement costs paired with lower feed costs. Excitement is also building ahead of tomorrow's bi-annual inventory report — could it offer a glimpse into the future of heifer retention?

Cash Cattle Struggles to Ignite as the Market Pushes Toward Friday. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the softer feeder index, weather that may not yet be fully priced in as snow and colder temperatures arrive late this week, and what Friday's Cattle on Feed report could reveal about tighter supplies moving forward.

Feedlots are holding out for cash this week, raising the question of whether Wednesday's trade was simply a bull-market correction. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek digs into the potential ramifications of the Tyson plant in Lexington, Nebraska closing next week. With cheaper feed offering fresh profit opportunities for cattle producers, Brad also takes a look at the Choice/Select spread and how it compares to the past five years.

Feeder cattle continue to impress, with strong signals coming out of recent sale barn runs. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down what's driving the market — from the Choice-Select spread and shifting cash movement to how the newly released dietary guidelines could factor into beef demand going forward.

As the calendar turns, the cattle market isn't hitting reset. Heavy cattle and familiar headlines are carrying 2025 themes straight into the new year. The big question now—can cash feeders hold into 2026? Heavyweights are expected to remain a factor, and on this week's Cattle Chatter, Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek explains why January is historically a tough month for fat cattle sales. He also digs into tightening cattle numbers in Brazil, the upcoming Tyson plant closure in Lexington, Nebraska, and what it all means moving forward. Plus, thoughts on heifer retention as the holdback quietly gets underway.

We're in full holiday mode across the markets, but there's still some outside noise grabbing the cattle trade's attention. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the lack of buying interest as the market waits on clarity around a possible border reopening. He also notes the latest Cattle on Feed report largely followed expectations. Looking ahead, Brad shares his thoughts on first-quarter trade direction, the cash market tone, and takes a moment to reflect on some of the key highlights from 2025.

The cattle market saw a $4 jump in midweek cash trade, led by strength out of the North. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek explains that the trade is already shifting its focus toward the upcoming holiday demand window. Fund participation in cattle has been notably absent, leaving cash trade somewhat sloppy as packers continue to buy hand-to-mouth to cover the next couple of weeks in what Brad describes as a "chopping wood" type of market. Boxed beef hasn't been a runaway, but it continues to hold steady. Still, the gorilla in the room remains the timing of a border reopening, and Brad shares his thoughts on what the market could look like once that happens.

Last week on Cattle Chatter, the discussion pointed toward the potential for a bullish run — and that's exactly what unfolded. On this week's program, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the stronger trade, including $12 higher cash cattle in Nebraska and continued short inventories in the South. He notes that this week's big cleanups were needed, and current weather is helping ease some of those extra pounds on the hoof. Brad walks through the market fundamentals, offers insight into why boxed beef prices may be lower this week, and gives a look ahead at holiday beef movement as the industry gears up for the seasonal push.

Cattle finding new gears in a bullish trade today, with cash once again proving to be king. Sale barns are seeing rocket-fueled bidding as packers hunt for inventory. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek talks about bids floating around $218 live in Kansas and $216 live with $335 to $340 dressed in Nebraska, but no trade has happened yet. Asking prices remain firm — $225 in the South and $340-plus in the North — and analysts say this market still has room to push higher before hitting any real resistance. Feeder cattle are also trading on solid strength as talk builds around the December 9th-ish border inspection expected at one key cattle crossing. Adding to the unease, a new screwworm case was reported just 120 miles from the U.S.–Mexico border this week, raising biosecurity concerns and giving the market even more to chew on.

A Dark Cloud Over Cattle Country: Tyson Decision Hits the Market Hard

Tyson's announcement continues to cast a heavy shadow over cattle country. After a stunning $15 drop in the north and $9 in the south, Wednesday's trade finally showed a little cash firmness — but the market mood remains shaken.

On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down how the plant closure is set to weigh on the trade in the weeks ahead. Cattle weights remain elevated, though the incoming Arctic blast may finally trim some pounds. Brad also dives into the formula trade, what this shutdown means for leverage, and why history may be repeating itself — echoing the plant closure challenges we saw back in 2015.

Looking toward December, the market stays tense, emotional, and very much on edge.