Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape beef supply chain

Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape Missouri’s beef supply chain

Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago. Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s…

Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape beef supply chain

The U.S. cattle herd is at a 70-year low, and cows are heavier than ever. It's changing the beef supply chain.

Smallest U.S. cattle herd since 1973 | Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network

The July Cattle on Feed Report offered little relief to customers paying higher prices for beef. That’s despite the cycle of herd liquidation that seems to be slowly ending. There were 94.2 million cattle and calves in the U.S. as of July 1, the lowest mid-year number of cattle since 1973. The USDA also said the number of animals placed in feedlots for weight gain before being sent to packers plunged to its lowest level since 2017. Bloomberg said

Smallest US Cattle Herd Since 1973 - Cattle Southeast AgNET

U.S. Cattle Numbers Hit 50-Year Low, Fueling High Beef Prices DepositPhotos image According to the July Cattle on Feed report, recently shared by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, U.S. cattle numbers have dropped to historic lows, offering little relief to consumers struggling with high beef prices. As of July 1, there were 94.2 million cattle and calves in the United States—marking the lowest mid-year inventory since 1973. —Dale Sa…