Shayle Shagam

Fewer cows, higher feed costs, tighter supplies.  That’s the summary of USDA's outlook for the dairy sector in 2023.   “Well, we're expecting to see is a slight decline in the average dairy herd somewhere down to about 9.83 million head in 2023.” ...

According to USDA, wholesale egg prices are coming down a bit, but U.S. egg production continues to run below a year ago.  USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam looked back on last month’s numbers.   “During December we produced about 652 million dozen which was about 6.6% below a year ago," Shag...

Last week's USDA cattle on feed report had even more evidence that supplies of fed cattle are shrinking and could eventually lead to a decline in beef production.  This, the USDA notes, has already appeared in higher prices up and down the chain.  USDA li...

According to Monday’s USDA Milk Production report, “What we’re looking at is a slow growth in the number of milk cows in the U.S. herd,” said USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam.  He added the report puts the number of milk cows on farms in August at a bit more than 9.4 million head, which is 11,000 fewer ...

The drought and high feed costs have forced some cattle producers to reduce herd size, and some producers across the nation have hinted at quitting the business altogether.   "It doesn’t surprise me that there are people thinking about getting out of the business," said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.  "The reality ...

When looking at NASS' most recent cattle inventory report, "The numbers are dropping," noted USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam.  "Both lower cow numbers and lower replacement numbers." And, he added, higher numbers of females being put into feed lots.  Sh...

Friday's USDA Cattle Feedlot Report provides more evidence that the cattle market is tightening up.  USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam said that as of June 1st, the nation's feed lots with 1000 or more head capacity, had an inventory of 11.8 mi...

USDA is reporting that the nation's cattle feed lots on May 1st were feeding 12 million head. "Which was the highest May 1st number since the series began in 1996." And 2% above May 1st a year ago. USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam said that's partly of the result of large numbers of placements of cattle into feed lots during March, and now during April, placements were 1 ... Read Mo

A record for March placement of cattle and calves in feedlots in the history of USDA's Catalog Feed Report Series. Over 12 million head as of April 1st, that was up two percent year over year. Even with draught a major factor in this increased inventory, USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam said findings such as this, as well as increased heifer and heifer calf placements from the previous year,

The USDA recently reported the largest March 1st inventory of cattle in feedlots ever. The 12.2 million head inventory followed a huge number of placements in the feedlots during February at 9.5 million head, 9% more than a year ago. "It is at the high end of the range of what industry analysts were thinking the number was going to be," said Shayle Shagam, USDA livestock analyst, says c