“The real problem is demand.” U. S. cattle have been gaining weight instead of earning money for producers these days, but beef sales should speed up during the spring grilling season. The average weight of steers and heifers set monthly records in January, and February, and remained large in March, according to the Livestock Marketing
U. S. Cattle Fattening Up As Beef Sales Slow
Troubles Not Over For U. S. Meat Firms
U. S. meat companies can expect a few more months of financial pressure as they work through supplies of high-priced feed and deal with soft demand for beef, chicken and pork amid a global recession, credit analysts said March 17. Feed costs have come down and meat production is being reduced, which has raised optimism
U. S. Feedlot Cattle Data Confirms Smaller Supply
The number of U. S. cattle being fattened in feedlots is the smallest in four years as losses on cattle sales have prompted producers to reduce supplies, analysts said March 19. The U. S. Agriculture Department reported there were 11.228 million cattle in U. S. feedlots as of March 1, which was 95 per cent
Closing Feedyards Could Increase Beef Prices
“In the long term, consumers are going to see much higher meat and poultry prices because the economic conditions are causing livestock producers to cut production.” – JIM ROBB Amer icans are eat ing more hamburgers and fewer steaks as the economy wallows in recession, and that has led to huge losses at U. S.
Pilgrim’s Pride Eyes 2009 Bankruptcy Exit
U. S. chicken producer Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has idled plants and is streamlining operations in hopes of exiting from bankruptcy protection by the end of 2009, CEO Don Jackson told Reuters on Feb. 27. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in December after struggling for nearly a year with high feed costs and low meat
National Beef To Go It Alone As JBS Bid Abandoned
National Beef Packing Co. intends to operate as an independent company now that Brazilian beef company JBS SA has abandoned its attempt to buy the No. 4 U. S. beef producer, National Beef’s chairman told Reuters Feb. 20. While disappointed the deal was cancelled, National Beef chairman Steve Hunt said the company would move forward
Smithfield To Shut Plants, Cut Jobs
Smithfield Foods said Feb. 17 it would close six processed meat plants and eliminate 1,800 jobs while retaining its current hog slaughter capacity as it restructures its pork group. Smithfield, the largest U. S. hog and pork producer, makes more than 50 brands of pork and turkey products including John Morrell, Eckrich and Armour. None
Shrinking Cowhide Prices Add To U. S. Ranchers’ Blues
U. S. cattle ranchers, already hit hard as the global recession eats into beef consumption, have the added hardship of shrinking prices for cowhides, used to make leather car seats, coats, shoes and upholstery, industry sources said Feb. 3. Cowhides are an important revenue stream for the beef industry. But sales have slipped as many
herd shrinks by bob burgdorfer
The U. S. cattle herd is shrinking and better beef demand is needed to restore profits and turn the industry around, a cattle industry economist says. A Jan. 30 U. S. Agriculture Department report showed the U. S. cattle herd is the smallest it’s been in 50 years. “It is drought, producer retirement, reduced profitability
U. S. hog data hints herd reduction over
A sharp drop in feed grain prices during the latter half of 2008 apparently ended hog producers’ plans to pare herds, a move that could mean more hogs in 2009 than previously expected, analysts said after viewing USDA hog herd data Dec. 30. Opinions were mixed on the direction of February and April contracts, with
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
