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Camille Brady- Livestock and Forage- Assumption, Lafourche, & Terrebonne Parishes
There are lots of exciting events coming up and things happening in the cattle industry as a whole! Be sure to check the last page of the newsletter for a full list of local events. I hope you take advantage of these opportunities to learn and network! The cattle market has been strong with record highs! In my opinion, I don’t foresee things changing in the near future. Slaughter numbers in the U.S. are down approximately 75,000 head since this time a year ago. I think this will be reflecting in the grocery store pretty soon.
I recently sat in on a few new world screwworm (NWSW) webinars...here are few takeaways. There was a recent report of new world screwworms on a person from Maryland who had just traveled into the U.S. from Guatemala. At this time there are still no detections of the screwworm in animals here in the U.S., rather 370 miles south of the border in Veracruz. There were new world screwworms in the U.S. in the 60s and they were eradicated successfully. There is concern that the NWSW can potentially come back into the country via people, pets, wild animals such as migratory birds, storms with high winds, etc. The U.S. has announced a plan with several steps to help in prevention like closing the Mexican border to cattle exports, helping Mexico adapt a fruit fly production facility to a sterile screwworm facility, increase tracking and detection methods, creating a sterile screwworm production facility in South Texas, etc.
So, as a producer, what should you be doing? Report any potential sitings to the State vet or your local vet. Collect several of the worms in question by wearing gloves and placing in a jar with rubbing alcohol. Good animal husbandry is very important. Make sure you have a good relationship with your local vet. Have discussions to see if there are things that you could be doing differently. Check cattle frequently. Don’t let wounds go untended. NWSW can enter cattle from wounds as small as a tick bite. They love umbilicus of calves. Calving in the cooler months (NWSW should slow in cooler months) and dipping navels of newborn calves with rubbing alcohol or rubbing alcohol and iodine solution can be helpful. Anything to dry it quicker. Dispose of placentas after birth. Dehorn, castrate, tag, and tattoo at birth and in cooler months. Make sure to clean equipment after each use and change needles between cattle. More resources can be found at Livestock, wildlife populations threatened by New World screwworm, which feeds on live tissue.
Asian Longhorn Ticks (ALT) also seems to be another threat to cattle in the U.S. Fortunately, it has not made its way into Louisiana yet, but we do offer favorable conditions for it. There is concern it will eventually spread here. ALT became a problem in cattle in 2017. They multiply quickly by cloning themselves and carry a potentially fatal disease in cattle called thieleria. Thieleria effects the red blood cells and is very similar to anaplasmosis in cattle but can affect all ages and genders, not just cows. Having a strict biosecurity protocol when hauling or buying cattle can help insure you are not spreading and infecting your herd. Dry lot new animals for 21-30 days and examine before introducing to the herd. Have good brush control in pastures and changing needles between animals could help reduce spread.
If you ever have ideas, want me to visit your farm, or need anything, please always feel free to reach out or stop by the office for a visit!
Kurt Guidry, Ph.D., Professor & Economist – LSU AgCenter
The cattle market continues to experience record breaking prices. And the good news is that these prices are projected to stay with us for at least the next year. Looking at the USDA’s Economic Research Service’s August 2025 projections show that fed cattle, feeder cattle, and cull cow prices are all expected to be higher in the second half of 2025 than they were in the first half (See Figure 1).
Not only does USDA project prices increase for the remainder of 2025, they also are projecting prices to average higher in 2026 versus 2025 (See Figure 2). Fed cattle prices are projected to be 7 percent higher in 2026 than 2025 while feeder cattle and cull cow prices are projected to be 10 and 3 percent higher, respectively. And while USDA currently only projects quarterly prices through the first two quarters in 2026, examining the projections for those quarters versus the annual 2026 projections suggests that USDA sees cattle prices remaining at elevated levels throughout 2026.
Is The USDA Correct in Their Price Projections for 2025 and 2026?
Most of the market analysts agree that the primary driver for this current market is low cattle inventory numbers. So, it follows that until cattle supply numbers begin to climb (and climb significantly), cattle prices will continue to be strong. And while cattle imports from Canada have increased to offset some of the domestic shortages, the Canada cattle industry is also experiencing lower than normal inventory levels. So, this will likely limit the number of cattle coming from that country. And with Mexican cattle prohibited from cattle into the country due to the new world screwworm, for cattle supplies to increase significantly will likely require expansion of cattle numbers here in the United States.
With the view that cattle supplies will require expansion of cattle inventory numbers here in the US, a couple of things must happen for that to occur. Producers must reduce the number of cows culled from their herds. And producers must retain a portion of their heifers in their herds above the number of cows culled. The number of heifers that are making it into the feedlot and the number of cows and heifers that are slaughtered are good indicators of whether there is potential for herd expansion.
In its Cattle on Feed Reports released in January, April, July, and October, the USDA reports the number of heifers in the feedlot. Figure 3 shows the number of heifers in the feedlot as a percentage of the total cattle on feed. If that percentage is high, that is an indication that more heifers have entered the beef production chain and, therefore, less heifers are being retained in cow herds. Historically, when comparing the percentage to total cattle and calves inventory numbers shows that as that percentage falls, it is followed by an increase in cattle and calves.
While the percentages have fallen over the last two years and would be projected to fall again for the remainder of 2025 indicating a potential for increased inventory numbers, it should be noted that these percentages still remain at the highest levels experienced over the last 20 years. So while a few more heifers may be being retained, these still high percentages likely means that, at best, the market is seeing a slowdown in the reduction of cow herd numbers and not necessarily an increase in those inventory levels. Any increase in inventory numbers would be expected to be very marginal.
Looking at heifer slaughter also shows similar trends. Figure 4 shows the percentage of heifers slaughtered of the previous calf crop estimate. As the number of heifers slaughtered as a percentage of the calf crop increases, this historically would lead to a decrease in cattle and calves inventory numbers. While the percentage is estimated to fall in 2025, it remains at levels that are significantly higher than the last time there was a significant increase in cattle and calves inventory numbers (2014 to 2019). In fact, the projected percentage for 2025 would be higher than the percentage in any year from 2014 to 2019. So, again, this would likely mean that while heifer retention may be marginally higher in 2025, there would expected to be very limited to any impact on total cattle and calves inventory numbers. As mentioned previously, the heifer retention that may be being experienced would likely only have an impact of slowing the rate of decline in inventory numbers versus actually causing inventory numbers to go up.
While examining heifer slaughter numbers and the numbers of heifer being put into the feedlot does not suggest significant herd expansion, the picture is a little different when examining beef cow numbers. Figure 5 shows the number of beef cows slaughtered as a percentage of total beef cow inventory on January 1st of each year. This percentage can be thought of as an average culling percentage.
Unlike the number of heifers in the feedlot as a percentage of total cattle on feed and the number of heifers slaughtered as a percentage of the calf crop, this culling percentage has seen significant reductions over the last three years. And while some of the large reductions was due to the abnormally high culling percentage in 2022 due to extensive drought conditions, it seems fairly safe to say that producers have reduced the number of cows being culled in their herds.
But reduced a culling percentage doesn’t, by itself, increase cow herd inventory numbers. It must be accompanied by increased heifer retention. And with no real signs of significant increases in heifer retention, a lower culling percentage likely only means a slowdown in the reduction of cow numbers and a potential stabilization of numbers in 2025. Looking at these numbers certainly wouldn’t suggest a significant increase in cattle inventory numbers happening in 2025.
What Does it all Mean?
Given all of the current information available, there is really no indication that cattle inventory numbers have increased significantly in 2025. At worst, the expectation would be that USDA’s Cattle inventory report in January 2026 would show numbers that were roughly the same as 2025. And it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if those numbers were marginally lower than in 2025.
If this current outlook and projection is correct, then that means inventory expansion would not likely happen in any significant way until 2026. Historically, once inventory expansion happens in a significant way, there is still another 12 to 18 months of stronger prices.
Figure 6 shows total cattle and calves inventory numbers along with the annual average price for 500 to 600 pound feeder steers at the Oklahoma City National Stockyards. After hitting a bottom in 2004, inventory numbers increased in 2005 but prices in 2005 were higher than in 2004. Similarly, after hitting a bottom in 2014, prices were higher in 2015 before falling in 2016.
So, if the market reacts as it has in the past, even if the January 2025 inventory numbers was the end of the liquidation phase, historically prices should be expected to be higher in 2026 than in 2025. And, as has been indicated, if inventory numbers did not increase in 2025 and that January 2026 number shows no increase from the previous year, that would imply these high prices could be here through 2027. Even if the inventory numbers in January 2026 show that there was an increase in 2025, the expectation is that increase will be very small and would still suggest strong prices in 2027. Maybe not at the levels currently being seen, but even a 10 to 15 percent reduction in 2027 prices from current levels would still be extremely good prices from a historic perspective.
Things to Monitor
While the current data and information suggests that prices should stay supported for at least the next 12 to 18 months, there are always issues that could materialize that drastically change the overall price outlook picture. For example, no one could foresee the Covid pandemic and the impact it would have on all markets. Market shocks could develop that impact the overall direction of cattle and beef prices. Issues like adverse weather conditions, major trade policy changes, and unexpected downturns in the overall economy could impact the supply and demand balance in both the cattle and beef markets. So, these things need to be continued to be monitored.
The one issue that may not be on the mind of most cattlemen is the impact of high beef prices on overall consumer demand. This has been something that most economists have worried about since beef prices began to move sharply higher in 2020. At what point does high beef prices force consumers to alter their purchase patterns. Fortunately, there has been no apparent negative impact of the high beef prices that the market has seen over the last 4 to 5 years. But that doesn’t mean that beef prices can continue go higher with no consequences. There is likely going to be a point when beef prices reach a level where the market starts to see significant reductions in overall demand.
Because beef prices can’t limitlessly go higher, this means that if cattle prices continue to go higher, there will be some in the marketing channel that will see margins decreased. We have started to see some of this happening. At the beginning of August 2025, prices for fed steers were 26 percent higher than the previous year. However, boxed beef cutout values were only 19 percent higher and the average retail beef price was only 9 percent higher. With the cost of cattle increasing at that level with the price of beef increasing at a lower level, margins for packers and others on the backend of the marketing channel would appear to be shrinking. If cattle prices continue to go up and if the backend of the marketing channel are limited in how much of that additional cost it can past on to consumers, margins would continue to be expected to tighten.
While cattle producers certainly are not going to feel sorry for the packers and the other entities on the backend of the marketing chain, they will need to monitor this situation. How long will packers and others be able or willing to sustain lower margins before it begins to impact their ability and willingness to continue to purchase cattle at these prices?
While there are some things that will need to be monitored, the overriding outlook for cattle prices remains very strong. With the current supply and demand balance in this market, without some sort of significant and unexpected market shock, there seems little that will be able to derail this current strong market.
If you have any questions regarding the content in this article, please reach out to Dr. Guidry at kmguidry@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Temperatures have been feeling hot! Making sure your cattle have fresh, clean, and cool water at all times is important! Horn flies can be a nuisance this time of year. It’s too hot to bring cattle in for tagging but rubs, sprays, and pour on dewormers can be effective solutions to help with flies.
Unpredictable spotty showers have helped with relief from the heat but have also made it pretty hard for cutting and making hay. Securing enough hay for the winter should be of utmost importance right now. Testing the hay for nutritional content can help with calculating and predicting winter supplementation needs. It’s best to be over prepared and not searching for more hay in the dead of winter.
Now is also a good time to plan out winter grass planting. Notifying seed distributors now of how much you plan to use can help them to order in bulk to receive better pricing and make sure they have enough on hand to get everyone through planting come late September/October.
Bulls should be pulled off of cattle to ensure you’re not calving in the middle of the summer- bovine summer pneumonia can be an issue with summer calves.
In relation to calving it is important to be sure you have a good working relationship with a local vet moving into fall calving. Be sure to check and stock up on all calving supplies like pulling chains, ear tags, colostrum, etc.
If you are in the market for a new herd bull or searching for AI sires right now is a good time to do your research! You can start watching online sales. EPDs are a great way to help with targeting certain traits to help develop more marketable calves.
Forward Planning:
Honoring Our Fellow Cattlemen Who Have Moved on to Greener Pastures. Our deepest sympathy to the families of...
For this one farmer the worries are over, lie down and rest your head, Your time has been and struggles enough, put the tractor in the shed.
Years were not easy, many downright hard, but your faith in God transcended, Put away your tools and sleep in peace. The fences have all been mended.
You raised a fine family, worked the land well and always followed the Son, Hang up your shovel inside of the barn; your work here on earth is done.
A faith few possess led your journey through life, often a jagged and stony way, The sun is setting, the cattle are all bedded, and here now is the end of your day.
Your love of God’s soil has passed on to your kin; the stories flow like fine wine, Wash off your work boots in the puddle left by blessed rain one final time.
You always believed that the good Lord would provide and He always had somehow, Take off your gloves and put them down, no more sweat and worry for you now.
Your labor is done, your home now is heaven; no more must you wait, Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and we will close the gate.
Author: Nancy Kraayenhof
About: Hilari Theriot is currently a Junior at Louisiana Tech majoring in Animal Science. She spent 9 years in the 4-H program where she showed beef and dairy cattle and horses. Hilari has recently been selected as the incoming Lafourche Cattlemen’s Queen. She will be officially crowned at the Cattlemen’s “Buckles on the Bayou” Livestock Show on November 16th.
Favorite thing about showing: Her favorite thing about showing/raising livestock is learning the different personalities of all the animals and making memories with all of the other showman!
Greatest lessons learned through showing: The greatest lesson in raising animals has been learning to maintain a positive attitude no matter the situation. Livestock have a mind of their own, and sometimes circumstances are out of your control. Being able to adapt and stay positive can make those situations much better.
Recommendations for younger producers: If you want it, go for it. Your dreams won’t come true if you don’t chase after them. Hilari states “I am so honored to be selected as the 2025-2026 Lafourche Cattlemen’s Queen. I can’t wait to represent you all at the upcoming Louisiana Cattlemen’s Convention!”
Join us in wishing her luck! We know she will do great!
Santo A. Lusco Jr. passed away surrounded by his family on August 18, 2025. He was born in 1941 to his mother, Louisa Willoz and his father Santo A. Lusco Sr. who was an avid cattleman, crop farmer and horseman. A native of Jefferson parish, where he worked as a paint and body man for the New Orleans Public Service, he followed in his father's footsteps by raising cattle. He drove every day to tend to herds on their family land in Raceland on the "Lusco Cattle Farm". Santo raised two children Santo "Speedy" Lusco Ill and Kimberly "Kim" Campo, with his wife of 29 years Patricia "Patti" Lusco. After losing her battle with cancer in 1993, Santo remarried to Carmella Babin Lusco. Shortly after, he moved to Raceland to be closer to his farm. Santo had been a member of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association for many years as well as the Lafourche Cattlemen’s Association. He was a proud graduate of the first Master Cattlemen’s program offered by the LSU AgCenter in 2004. Santo spent many years with his son, Speedy, and grandson, Tyler raising beef cows and baling hay on their family land and surrounding pastures. Later his grandson-in-law, Gerard, joined the family business. A favorite memory the family has is when Santo and Speedy purchased the John Deere 6140D Tractor, and seeing him use it for many years on the farm. Santo most recently owned a herd of Angus, Hereford, and Holstein/Jersey cows bred to Brahman bulls to produce F1 Heifers. He also owned F-1 cows that were bred to Charolais bulls as a terminal cross. The original property his father purchased in 1909 is still owned by the Luscos with cows grazing and tractors rolling everyday. Santo’s legacy lives on through his family who continue raising cattle and making hay year after year, two of his favorite things in life. His family was his whole world, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He would be proud that his family has the same passion and love for the land that he always had. Until the end of his life, he would ride to the prairie daily to check pastures and ensure his cattle were doing well.
Ashley K. Edwards, PhD, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist – LSU AgCenter
Steroid-based implants have been approved for use in growing beef cattle by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since the mid-1950s. Growth implants can arguably be one of the most profitable technologies implemented per dollar invested. In fact, over 90% of feedlot cattle are implanted at some point during the finishing phase. Comparably, less than 10% of cow-calf producers take advantage of this technology (USDA-NAHMS, 2017). As such an economically advantageous technology, it is unfortunate that many cow-calf operations do not take advantage of growth implant programs.
Growth promoting implants are small pellets placed subcutaneously in the back of the ear. Proper placement into the middle third of the ear is essential to calf performance and health. Implants are designed to administer the slow release of a growth stimulant over a specific period. It is important to understand that each implant is designed for a certain age or stage of production. Similarly, there are different implants for steers and heifers based on type of growth stimulant or hormone utilized.
There are three naturally occurring (testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone) and two synthetic (trenbolone acetate and zeranol) hormones approved for use. Trenbolone acetate works to mimic testosterone, while zeranol mimics estradiol. An implant may contain a single hormone or combination of hormones which work to increase the natural release of growth hormone within an animal. Growth hormone functions to increase muscle development. Increased muscle development results in heavier calves with more meat for consumption.
The number of implants placed in a program will vary based on the age nursing calves are weaned or duration of the stocker period. Depending on the implant utilized, nursing calves may be implanted as early as 30 or 45 days of age. Since most implants lose their effectiveness after about 120 days and weaning does not occur until around 205 days of age, producers may choose to wait until calves are older before inserting an implant. It should be emphasized that implants should only be used in terminal steer and heifer calves. Implants should not be administered replacement heifers or bulls. Bull calves should be castrated as early as possible to maximize use of an implant program.
Research has shown that stocker calves exhibit a greater response to implants than nursing calves. This does not negate the increased growth rates seen when implanting nursing calves. However, it does draw attention to consideration of how many implants will be utilized based on your marketing strategy. Stocker calves may be implanted every 90 to 100 days (again depending on the implant used). Adequate nutrition is critical to the success of implant programs. Supplemental feeding of stocker calves has been shown to increase the rate of gain shown in response to implant programs.
When implants are utilized properly and adequate nutrition is supplied, average daily gains increase approximately 5 to 6% in nursing calves, 15 to 20% in stocker calves, and 15 to 20% in feedlot cattle. Likewise, feed efficiency has been shown to increase 5 to 14% in implanted cattle. Cost of a single implant averages less than $2.00 for nursing calves and stocker cattle and it may be economical to implement programs with multiple implants when marketing stocker calves. When administer properly, an implant program can increase average daily gains, feed efficiency, and profits in cow-calf and stocker operations. Lastly, it is crucial to consider your market as some operations prohibit the use of growth promoting implants at any phase.
For more information, please feel free to contact me at akedwards@agcenter.lsu.edu or 512-818-5476.
Beck, P., et. al. Implants and Their Use in Beef Cattle Production. 2017. Oklahoma State University
Extension.; Felix, Tara L. Implants Used in Beef Cattle are Safe and Efficacious. 2017. Penn State
Extension.; Stewart, Lawton. Implanting Beef Cattle. Bulletin 1302. 2013. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.
United States Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. National Animal Health Monitoring System. May 2020. Beef 2017. Beef Cow-calf Management Practices in the United States.
Latest Update on the New World Screwworm and Asian Longhorned Tick- Dr. Christine Navarre – Extension
Veterinarian – LSU AgCenter. Watch here:
