Cow-calf producers in the ‘driver’s seat ’

From staff reports Bob Rodenberger, a partner with Stockman Oklahoma Livestock, recently gave his take on the cattle markets.

Noting great runs this week in Oklahoma City and Apache, Rodenberger says that demand and prices are both high. He added that this leverage puts cow-calf producers in the driver’s seat.

“Even at what these calves are costing today, if you have got grass to go to after wheat, or you have grass to go to with what you are weaning and can there is a big margin in these cattle,” Rodenberger said. The biggest change he has seen in the last few weeks has been increasing demand for cattle going to grass. “We thought they were high 60 days ago, and they are even that much higher today,” Rodenberger said. In the coming week, he predicts good runs and great markets. “It is going to start fading out because there are just not as many cattle around us,” Rodenberger said. “As we get back into May, there is going to be more graze-out cattle than I think all of us thought there would be. With $5 or $6 wheat, they make more by running cattle than they do combining the wheat.”