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This week's beef import report showed significant increases from South American countries. Imports from Brazil jumped to 8,180 MT, up 47% from last year, while volume from Uruguay totaled 4,297 MT, more than 3-times last year.

The latest cattle on feed data showed there were 11.45 million head as of January 1st, which was 3.2% below last year, or roughly 373,000 head less.

The January 1st cattle on feed report showed there were 4.435 million heifers on feed. Compared to the prior year, that was approximately 3% lower. The implied heifer placements during the fourth quarter were down by approximately 6% from 2024. How much of the decline was

The weekly average Feeder Index volume currently stands at 65,974 head, more than 9,000 head above the same week in 2025 and 17,000 head above the five-year average.

 Formula dressed weights in Colorado averaged 985 pounds for the week ending January 11th - a 27 pound increase from week prior and 81 pounds heavier than the three-year average.

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The weekly estimates for 2025 suggest that the US’s total beef imports grew by 8.1%, with Canada and New Zealand being the only major sources to decline from 2024.

Nationally, combined Prime and Choice grading rose 2% in the final week of 2025, reaching a year-to-date high of 87.2%, or 2.75% higher than the same period last year.

 The Sub-Select category (“Other” grading) averaged 3.86% nationally for the week ending 12/20, up 1.42 percentage points week over week. This increase equates to approximately 6,000 additional head grading Sub-Select for the week.

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 Given the basis distribution of January live cattle contracts, will the packer delay the slaughter of those committed cattle until late in the month?

After three weeks of lackluster volumes of boxed beef sales, the combined total forward contracts and negotiated sales for deferred delivery exceeded 1,400 loads last week. It was the third largest volume of the last six months for those categories.

 This morning's beef export data for the first week of December showed that shipments totaled 11,673 MT, down 23% from last year.  Relatively small shipments during a week of notably higher production and imports brought the beef availability estimate for that week to ~590.8

National Prime Grading averaged 13.6% for the week ending 12/6- that's 2.7% above year ago levels and perfect timing heading into the holiday demand season.

For the week ending 11/22, federally inspected heifer carcass weights reached a new record high of 897 pounds. +36 pounds above the same week in 2024.  

During the week ending November 28th, beef imports passed for US entry saw a seasonal drop, yet at 24,496 MT, was down 7.8% from last year and the smallest volume of 2025. 

 In Texas, the percentage of cattle grading Prime held steady week-over-week, while Choice increased by 0.56%. Select grading declined 0.5% from the prior week, reaching a year-to-date low of 20.5% down 6.5% percent from the same period last year.

Beef shipments to Hong Kong in the latest data (week of October 13th due to gov't shutdown) reached the highest volume so far in 2025. At 1,273 MT, that was more than double the 3-year average.