The variety of beef cows within the US in the beginning of this yr was the bottom since 1962 at 28.918 million, in accordance with a report by the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) Nationwide Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The figures mirrored the smallest herd for that date because the authorities started protecting the information 52 years in the past, and mirrored a fifth yr of declining beef cow numbers.

US analysts have mentioned that meat processors like Tyson Meals and Cargill pays elevated costs for cattle till producers begin rebuilding the herd.

They defined that longer-term plans for brand new slaughter vegetation to open in coming years point out processors will even more and more have to compete with one another to purchase restricted numbers of cattle.

Chief strategist for brokerage Allendale, Wealthy Nelson mentioned: “The subsequent two to 3 years are going to be a massacre for packer margins.”

The USDA, in a separate report, mentioned producers positioned 1.68 million cattle in feedlots in June, up 3% from 2022.

Analysts had anticipated placements on common to say no 1.6% from final yr.

They signalled that the rise meant there’s nonetheless not sufficient pasture for cattle to graze on because of dry climate.

Economist for Steiner Consulting, Altin Kalo mentioned: “The dynamic just isn’t there but the place you’re going to see an actual shortfall within the variety of cattle happening feed.”

US herd statistics

In whole, there have been 95.9 million head of cattle and calves on US farms as of July 1, 2023, in accordance with the USDA NASS report.

Different key findings within the report had been:

  • Of the 95.9 million head stock, all cows and heifers which have calved totaled 38.8 million;
  • The variety of milk cows within the US remained unchanged at 9.40 million;
  • US calf crop was estimated at 33.8 million head, down 2% from 2022;
  • All cattle on feed had been at 13.1 million head, down 2% from 2022.

To acquire an correct measurement of the present state of the US cattle trade, NASS surveyed roughly 15,600 operators throughout the nation in the course of the first half of July.

Surveyed producers had been requested to report their cattle inventories as of July 1, 2023, and calf crop for your complete yr of 2023 by web, mail, phone, or private interview.