7/22/2023 0 Comments Usda feeder cattle pricesFrame size relates to height but also to the weight at which an animal will produce a carcass of a given grade. The other numbers are part of a Feeder Grade system that describes the cattle in regard to skeletal size (frame size), muscling, and thriftiness.įrame size is used because frame is an inherited characteristic that is not greatly affected by normal management practices. "Lights" often bring the lowest price per pound because the amount of saleable product is small, while the overhead costs of harvesting and processing are about the same as larger, fleshier cows. ![]() Leans and Lights are nearly always lower in price per pound than are the Boners. ![]() "Lights" are thin cows that are very small and would have very low (less than 500 pounds) hot carcass weights. They are in general expected to be lower in dressing percentage than the fleshier cows and are more easily bruised while being transported than are cows in better body condition. These cows are very thin (Body condition scores 1 - 4). The last two groups of cows as reported by the market news service are the " Leans" and " Lights". Many well-nourished commercial beef cows would be graded "Boners". These cows usually would fall in the body condition score grades of 5 to 7. The next class is a more moderate conditioned group of cows called " Boners" or "Boning Utility". Body condition score 7 and above are required to be "Breakers". They usually are quite fleshy and generally have excellent dressing percentages. The highest conditioned cull cows are reported as " Breakers". The four classes are divided primarily on fatness. The USDA market news service reports on four classes of cull cows. Producer Question from 2009 Q: How do you read and understand the daily beef prices as stated in the current ag price listed here? (September, 2009)Ī: The prices are in $/cwt or $/hundred pounds of animal.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |