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Livestock economist says he continues to watch beef cow slaughter numbers

An ag economist says this week’s Livestock Slaughter report will provide a more robust look at what’s happening with the U.S. cattle herd. 

University of Missouri livestock economist Scott Brown says year-to-date cattle slaughter is running about 3% behind year-ago levels, but he wants to see the breakdown of the numbers in this week’s report from the USDA. “What does beef cow slaughter look like in any indication we’re building in some parts of the country,” he says.  “I can hear some of those stories in some parts where whether it’s been better, I hear other places where probably still liquidating cows.”

And, Brown says he’s also looking at the breakdown of steer and heifer slaughter. “I think it sets the stage a little bit for what happens here in the second-half of this year and just where cattle prices could continue to go,” he says.  “Probably they are going to go higher. Or are they going to stall out?”

The report comes out Thursday at 3 Eastern/2 Central.