Strong Cattle Prices and Production Challenges in 2013 Based on information available as or November 13, 2012

摘要

Two years of drought have resulted in additional unplanned cattle liquidation. This follows unplanned liquidation since 2006 as a result of sharply higher feed grain prices, a recession and the continuing sluggish macroeconomic recovery in the U.S. Iestimate that the U.S. beef cow herd will drop to roughly 29.4 million head in January 1, 2013, after another 1.5 percent cow liquidation in 2012. Beef cow slaughter in 2012 is down about 13 percent from 2011, a level that indicates some herd liquidation although significantly less than the sharp liquidation in the Southern Plains in 2011. Beef cow slaughter is down 25 percent in Region 6, which includes Oklahoma and Texas and the surrounding region.