December 21, 2022 • FEED-LOT's Weekly eNewsletter

Feeder Markets Finishing Strong

Feeder cattle auctions in Oklahoma are winding down for 2022, with many auctions closed for the remainder of December. Feeder numbers are expected to remain low going into 2023. Stocker numbers on wheat pasture are well below normal suggesting that there will not be a large “wheat pasture” run of feeders into March or for graze-out into May.

Cold Snap Preparations

Many are already feeling the Siberian air mass dropping across the nation. Cattle tend to lose their acclimation to cold weather when we have a series of nice thermoneutral days. Condition of livestock and their hair coat can play a large part in their tolerance to colder conditions. If you're still doing cold-prep, here are some additional tips....

Just How Do Santa's Reindeer Get the Job Done?

It is the “most wonderful time of the year” and this week Dr. Glenn Selk joins us to address the age-old questions of what permit Reindeer to pull Santa’s sleigh all over the globe on Christmas eve.

Have you ever wondered how Santa's reindeer can make that monumental journey on Christmas Eve? Let's look into some key facts about reindeer that may help us understand how they transport Ole St. Nick on his appointed rounds over the world.

CoBank Releases 2023 Year Ahead Report

The U.S. economy still has considerable momentum and is not currently on the verge of recession. However, economists have never been more pessimistic and there are very legitimate reasons for concern. Over the past half century, inflation above 5% has never been tamed without incurring a recession. That portends a painful yet necessary chain of events will unfold in 2023, according to a comprehensive year-ahead outlook report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.

USDA Transitions from Voluntary Reporting to Mandatory

On December 6, USDA published a final rule to obtain additional information they believe is necessary to populate a Cattle Contract Library (CCL). The final rule will require packers that slaughtered an average of not less than five percent of the number of fed cattle slaughtered nationally during the immediately preceding five calendar years to submit contractual information for the purchase of cattle, meaning the rule will apply to Cargill, National, JBS and Tyson.

OSU Extension: Using Concentrate Feeds to Stretch the Hay Supply