U.S. Beef Cattle Has Lowest Inventory Since 1962

[mystery-ak]

U.S. Beef Cattle Has Lowest Inventory Since 1962

Jacob Bliss 28 Feb 2023 Washington, DC

The beef cattle inventory in the United States is at its lowest point since 1962, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA’s biannual cattle report showed that, as of Jan. 1, 2023, there is a 89.3 million head inventory — which is three percent lower than the total from a year ago and the lowest since 2015. Of that number, 38.3 million cows and heifers have calved.

Additionally, there are 28.9 million beef cows, which are those explicitly bred for slaughter and meat sales, as of the start of this year — which is down nearly four percent from last year and the lowest the agency has recorded since 1962.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/02/28/u-s-beef-cattle-has-lowest-inventory-since-1962/

[LMAO]

We’ll just have to start eating bugs

[roamer_1]

The leverage now is late spring. Whether the ranches are sitting on cattle they could not sell in the fall, and don't want to turn out to the range (whether they have more than their range can handle).

The weird part is not the steers. The wild card is paired cow/calf and late pregnant cattle. With Texas and the desert SW looking to rebuild herd, that is what will drive the price on the hoof. And what might have been rated for culling might have value otherwise.

Ir is an interesting conundrum, because spring sales are what give ranches the money to make it through till the big fall sales.

It is going to be a rough, tight market.