cattle

Al Jazeera reports that the world may be heading toward a global meat crisis, driven by pressure on cattle production and the challenge of feeding growing herds. The piece examines how rising demand for meat, constrained feed supplies and environmental pressures could disrupt global protein supply chains, raising concerns about food security and prices worldwide.

Immigration raids targeting meatpacking and beef-processing workers in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma are raising concerns that labor shortages could disrupt beef production and push consumer prices higher. The enforcement actions hit the heart of America's cattle industry, where immigrant labor is central to slaughterhouses and processing plants, prompting debate over the economic cost of the crackdown.

Federal immigration agents are conducting raids at meatpacking plants in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. In response, cattle industry groups including the Texas Cattle Feeders Association issued a joint statement warning that these disruptions could lead to higher beef prices for consumers and shake the entire meat supply chain.

Immigration enforcement actions in major US cattle and meatpacking regions are drawing concern that labor disruptions could push beef prices higher. The New York Times reports that raids targeting workers in beef-producing areas are raising alarm among ranchers and processors who depend on immigrant labor, amid already elevated food costs for American consumers.

A wild screwworm fly has been found in Texas, the first detection there since the current outbreak began. The parasitic fly, whose larvae infest the wounds of warm-blooded animals, poses a serious threat to livestock and wildlife. The discovery will raise concern among ranchers and agricultural officials monitoring the pest's northward spread from Mexico.

The largest international livestock crossing has reopened following a closure prompted by a screwworm outbreak. The reopening restores the movement of cattle and other animals across the border, a key route for the regional livestock trade. Producers and traders had faced disruptions while animal health authorities worked to contain the parasite, and the resumption is being welcomed as a return to normal operations for the sector.

Health officials are providing safety guidance after a case of rabies was confirmed in cattle. The advice urges livestock owners and the public to avoid contact with animals showing unusual behaviour, report suspected cases promptly, and ensure pets and livestock are vaccinated. Officials stress rabies is fatal but preventable with timely medical care after exposure.

A viral disease that has infected thousands of Wisconsin deer has now been found in dairy cows in Waukesha County, Wisconsin Public Radio reports. The finding raises concerns about the disease spreading among livestock and potential implications for the dairy industry, wildlife management and food safety, and authorities are expected to face questions about containment and monitoring.

A new report from Brownfield Ag News highlights the growing gap between what American shoppers pay for beef at the grocery store and what cattle ranchers actually earn. Despite elevated retail beef prices, rising production costs, feed expenses and middlemen margins mean many ranchers are struggling to turn a profit, prompting debate over who really benefits from the beef supply chain.

Wisconsin has confirmed epizootic hemorrhagic disease in cattle, coinciding with an ongoing EHD outbreak among the state's deer population. The viral disease, spread by biting midges, can sicken livestock as well as deer. Farmers and veterinarians in the region are being urged to watch for signs such as fever and swelling, and state officials are monitoring how widely the outbreak may spread.

Iowa's pork and cattle producers remain central to the state's agricultural economy while contending with volatile input costs. Farmers are facing swings in feed prices, labor and other expenses that squeeze margins, even as livestock production continues to anchor rural communities and Iowa's standing as a leading national producer of pork and beef.

Cattle futures traded mixed as markets waited on direct business between feedlots and packers, which typically sets the cash price direction for the week. Without firm negotiated sales, traders are weighing boxed beef demand and packer margins to gauge where cash cattle trade will settle. Mixed movement suggests hesitation until those deals provide a clearer price signal.