Understanding where cattle numbers could be headed

Long-term drought pressure, rising input prices, and other issues have resulted in increased reports of herd liquidations.  But, some have questioned if those numbers line up with recent reports from the USDA.

University of Missouri livestock economist Scott Brown explains.  “We aren’t holding heifers back, because the percentage of heifers in feedyards is large,” he says.  “Beef cow slaughter has continued to run very large.  And drought conditions in many parts of the country. 

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