Record-breaking ground beef demand and suspended Mexican cattle imports are creating a perfect storm for elevated cattle prices, with six-weight steers trading at $415.51/cwt. Despite forecasts showing some softening in heavier cattle over the coming weeks, the market fundamentals remain strong heading into summer. Meanwhile, University of Nebraska researchers have developed a promising H5N1 vaccine for cattle that could transform biosecurity protocols.

In this Tuesday Market Update, Brock and Jim deliver a comprehensive analysis of current cattle market conditions, including detailed price breakdowns across weight classes and a four-week price forecast. They examine why lighter cattle are commanding significant premiums and how cash prices improving alongside larger slaughter volume signals genuine demand growth.

The hosts dive into critical animal health developments, discussing not only the groundbreaking H5N1 vaccine research but also key stress points in beef-on-dairy calf production and the concerning trend of increasing mature cow size (averaging 7.7 pounds per year over sixty years). With a strong El Niño forecast for late 2026, producers need to consider how larger cows and potential feed cost increases could impact profitability.

The episode concludes with an optimistic outlook on beef demand, highlighting record per capita ground beef supplies and how changing consumer preferences—even among those using GLP-1 medications—may actually benefit quality beef producers. Jim shares colorful historical perspective on how the industry has evolved since the lean-focused 1980s, reminding listeners that market cycles eventually come full circle.