No sales pitch — just a straight conversation about your operation and your risk
Livestock Operations
The Market Doesn't Care How Well You Feed Them
You do everything right — genetics, nutrition, timing — and the board can still move $8 against you in a week. We help cattle operations build risk management programs so price moves don't catch them without a plan.
You Can't Control the Board. But You Don't Have to Be at Its Mercy
Cattle is a margins game. You already know that. You track cost of grain down to the penny, negotiate feed contracts, time placements around seasonal patterns — and then a single Cattle on Feed report rewrites your closeout projections overnight. The tools to protect those margins exist. But most of the hedging world was built for traders staring at screens, not producers staring at pens. Between confusing LRP paperwork, margin call anxiety, and brokers who’ve never stepped foot on a feedlot, it’s no wonder most operations just white-knuckle it.
We built AgOptimus for people who run cattle — not trade them. Whether you’re a cow-calf producer watching calf prices, a backgrounder managing basis, or a feedlot operator hedging both sides of the margin, we meet you where you actually are. No suits. No scripts. Just people who understand what a bad closeout costs you.
Challenges We Solve
The Risks That Hit Before You Can React
Cattle markets move fast and margins are thin. These are the problems we hear about most — and the ones we've built our entire approach around solving
Stop Hoping the Market Cooperates
Let's build a hedging plan around your actual operation — your head count, your feed costs, your marketing window
Brokerage Services
We've Walked Pens, Not
Just Trading Floors.
Most brokers will tell you to “sell the rally.” Helpful. But do they know why a drought in Texas changes placement economics in Kansas? Do they understand what happens to your basis when a packing plant cuts a shift? That’s the difference.
Our brokers are connected to the cash cattle market — auction reports, packer bids, feedlot conditions. When we talk about your hedge, we’re not reading off a model. We’re factoring in your cost of grain, your days on feed, and when you actually need those cattle to move. That’s how hedging should work.
LATEST ARTICLES
Check out the latest industry articles
LRP vs. Selling Futures: Understanding Capital Requirements
LRP vs. Selling Futures: Understanding Capital Requirements
Is On-Farm Storage Free? The Hidden Costs of Holding Grain
Is On-Farm Storage Free? The Hidden Costs of Holding Grain
Discount vs full service broker? The Hidden Risks for Farmers | AgOptimus
Discount vs full service broker? The Hidden Risks for Farmers | AgOptimus
How and Why Margin Calls Occur: A Producer’s Guide to Liquidity
How and Why Margin Calls Occur: A Producer’s Guide to Liquidity
How to Pick the Right Hedge Month for Your Cattle
How to Pick the Right Hedge Month for Your Cattle
FAQs
Common questions from cattle producers about hedging, futures trading, and working with a broker.
What does a cattle hedging broker actually do?
A cattle hedging broker helps you use futures and options to protect the sale price of your livestock or manage your feed costs before they spike. We execute trades on your behalf, monitor your positions, and help you build a hedging plan tied to your placement and marketing dates. Think of us as your risk management partner — we handle the markets so you can focus on your herd.
How do futures help me protect cattle prices?
Futures contracts let you lock in a selling price for your cattle ahead of marketing. If the live cattle market drops, your futures position gains value to help offset the lower cash price. Options give you more flexibility — you can set a price floor while keeping the ability to benefit if the market rallies. Your broker helps you match the right contract months and strategy to your feeding and marketing schedule.
What's the difference between LRP and futures hedging?
Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) is a USDA insurance product that pays out if cash prices fall below your coverage level. It’s simple but limited — you can’t adjust it once purchased, and it doesn’t cover feed costs. Futures hedging gives you more control over timing, strike prices, and the ability to hedge both the revenue and cost side of your operation. Many producers use a combination of both depending on their situation.
Can I hedge my feed costs too?
Absolutely. Feed is one of the biggest variable costs in any cattle operation. You can use corn and soybean meal futures to lock in feed costs ahead of time, helping stabilize your margins even when grain markets spike. We help you coordinate your feed hedges with your cattle hedges so the whole picture makes sense — not just one side of the equation.
Do I need a large operation to work with a broker?
Not at all. We work with operations of all sizes — from 200-head cow-calf operations to large commercial feedlots. With the introduction of mini and micro futures contracts, even smaller producers can access meaningful price protection. The right question isn’t how many head you run — it’s whether price risk affects your bottom line. If it does, we can help.
OUR TECHNOLOGY
Tools Built for Cattle Producers
Live Markets & Execution
Trading Platform
Live cattle, feeders, corn, and meal — real-time quotes and execution. Check the board from the truck, place an order between pens.
AI-Powered Market Data
Numbers.ag
Cattle-on-feed analysis, COT breakdowns, and seasonal pattern recognition. Market intelligence that used to cost a consultant retainer.
Brokers Who Farm Too
Brokerage Services
Direct access to a broker who understands cattle cycles, packer dynamics, and why your break-even matters more than any chart pattern.
