US Cows Push Beef Production Up
AUSTRALIA - US beef production reached 2.23 billion lbs (1.01 million tonnes cwt) in January, three per cent above the previous year (United States Department of Agriculture – USDA).
28 February 2008
1 minute read
Analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia said the rise was a result of higher cattle slaughter, particularly cows slaughter which is up by nine per cent on last year, to 545,000 head.
While the rise in cow slaughter has resulted in an increased supply of manufacturing beef, this combined with the weak US dollar has impacted demand for imported beef in the US.
The USDA’s World Demand and Supply Estimate forecasts for 2008 suggest US beef production will be lower than last year, at 26.41 billion lbs (11.98 million tones cwt). Despite the forecast for reduced beef supplies, cattle prices for 2008 are expected to remain relatively unchanged, with producer returns expected to be squeezed, as feed costs are predicted to increase further this year.
US lamb and mutton production in January was down two per cent on the same time last year, to 14.8 million lbs (6,713 tonnes cwt). The fall was due to a two per cent decrease in sheep and lamb slaughter, although average live weights remained unchanged from a year ago, the MLA analysts said.
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