US drought causes increase in cow slaughterings - 15 August 2012
The continuing drought conditions in the US is causing more cows to be sent to slaughter, reducing the potential for short term US prime beef production. The USDA expects US beef production to be down 4% in 2012, and decline a further 2% in 2013.
Currently it is estimated that combined cow and bull slaughtering are c. 148,000 head per week. This total is close to the 2012 highs and 12% higher than the drought impacted numbers seen in the country a year ago.
It is estimated by CME that just under 60% of all US beef cows are located in US states where over half of the pastures are in a poor or very poor condition – last year this figure was c. 30%.
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