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For more than 10 years, Paul Dykstra has written a bi-weekly market column for the brand which evolved into the CAB Insider e-newsletter. He shares current market updates, trends and observations with a closer look at the cattle market from the beef-product side than you can find anywhere else. Yes, there’s an emphasis on the Certified Angus Beef ® brand, and you will also find the latest research exploring carcass quality.
We want you to have confidence in what is relevant and drives value in your cattle business to help you make profit-driven decisions at home. And the CAB Insider helps you do that.
Meet the Author
A native of Colorado, Paul Dykstra grew up on a commercial cow-calf ranch in western Colorado and later earned a degree in animal science from Colorado State University. Paul worked as a feedyard manager for the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., before joining the brand’s supply development team in 2002.
As the Director of Supply Management and Analysis for the brand, Paul combines his experience and knowledge to work closely with ranchers and feedyard managers to raise Angus cattle using the best management practices to enhance profitability by producing quality beef.
READ THE LATEST INSIDERS
Record Weights Support Fed Cattle Decline
Escalating fed cattle weights simply cannot be overlooked in the beef supply equation. Finished cattle weights, harvest throughput and feedlot currentness don’t have the same relationship today as they did just a few years ago.
Strong Sales Amidst Fewer Carcasses
Increasingly smaller annual fed cattle supplies have been a constraint since peak harvest levels for the current cycle topped harvest volume in 2022. Subsequent years have meant historic profitability to the cattle sector, yet growth in Certified Angus Beef ® sales have largely been achieved through the diligent work of downstream brand partners.
Price Spreads Widen, Robust Quality
The boxed beef market posted massive year-over-year increases beginning in April 2025. The remainder of the 2025 market featured an average 19.9% increase in the USDA Comprehensive Cutout (all grades, all delivery periods). The pattern largely remained intact as the first five months of 2026 recorded a 14.8% annual price jump for the period.