Biomass gasification and the resulting production of biochar were among the topics addressed at the recent Texas Animal Manure Management Issues Conference in Round Rock, TX, north of Austin.

The fed cattle market softened a little more last week as early trade was hampered by heavy carcass weights, deliveries of heavy cattle against the October live cattle contract, and continued erosion in boxed beef prices.

Northern tier feedlots started moving cattle last Wednesday at prices which were steady to $1 lower than the previous week at $128-130 dressed and at $83-83.50 live. Several reports of heavy cattle being discounted added to the downward trend for feeders in the region.

Fed cattle trade started early last week with feedlots trading cattle Wednesday and Thursday at $129-131 dressed and at $82 live in Nebraska and the Corn Belt, mostly steady with the prior weeks trade. Southern trade came at $84.50 in Texas last Thursday and $84 in Kansas, 50 cents to $1 lower than the previous week.

Fed cattle trade started steady in the Corn Belt last week in a ull range of $129-131 dressed basis. Southern Plains traders were still a few dollars apart at midday last Thursday with trade expected to be no worse than steady with the prior week at $85 live. Packers were believed to be somewhat short

Fed cattle trade started off with light volume last Wednesday at $130-$132 dressed in the Corn Belt along with some $131-132 dressed and $83 live trade in Nebraska. Analysts predicted that last weeks trade would move $1 higher than the prior week in most areas after support firmed in the contract markets and boxed beef showed some resiliency.

The majestic high-altitude, grass-filled meadows coupled with elite genetics representing the beef industrys top sires has positioned the Valles Caldera National Preserve to become a unique performance testing center for high-altitude bulls.

Feedlot trade was slow last week as managers worked on their case for pushing prices higher after boxed beef prices posted light gains and packers ramped up their harvest levels at midweek. Asking prices were at $84 live and $132-134 dressed in most areas last Thursday with only light trade reported in Nebraska at $130 dressed.

With so many cattle vaccines availablenearly 125 different vaccines are currently on the marketthere is a considerable amount of information, and misinformation, out there. To help clear up some misconceptions, Vic Cortese, DVM, Ph.D., DABVP, Pfizer Animal Health, busts nine common vaccine myths.

Cash trade was very quiet at midday last Thursday with just a handful of dressed cattle trading through the first half of the week in the north at mostly steady money. There were bids of $