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Rising slaughter capacity is good news, but more is needed

Daily slaughter totals continue to slowly climb back toward pre-COVID-19 levels and an ag economist says it couldn’t happen soon enough.

University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says we’re in much better shape than many expected we would be right now.  “If you look at last week’s slaughter totals relative to a year ago, cattle slaughter is down about 14 percent and hog slaughter is down about 8 percent,” he says.  “If you remember we were talking about vs. a year ago anywhere from 25 to 30 percent lower not that long ago.”

He tells Brownfield while slaughter capacity is on the rise – there is still a long way to go.  “It’s one thing to break even,” he says.  “And by that, I mean we’re slaughtering enough every day to keep up with what’s currently ready to be slaughtered.  It’s far another to work through the backlog in both cattle and hogs.  And that’s going to take us a little bit longer.”

Brown made his remarks during Brownfield’s Weekly Livestock Market Update which airs every Friday afternoon.