Livestock Live Hog Price Falls Below RMB 15/kg A combination of oversupply and tepid demand sent the national average cash price tumbling down last week by RMB .56/kg ($.08/lb.) or 3.7 percent. Cash prices are now where they stood midway through February. The average operating loss per live hog actually contracted by RMB 47/head ($6.84/head) or 22.7 percent as falling feed costs outpaced the drop in live hog cash prices. Meanwhile, the corn-hog ratio on a cash basis fell to 5.14. The issue of an oversupplied market may seem strange given the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF) resurgence here in the first quarter, which has led to a 20 to 30 percent reduction in the live hog inventory, but the majority of pigs impacted have been sows. Eve...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
Let’s return briefly to the fake meat hype cycle, now sitting somewhere in a dusty corner of your mind, not entirely forgotten. What happened to all those products, known as plant-based alternative proteins? They were supposed to be as good as real meat—cheaper, more environmentally...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.