An ag economist says the slaughter pace for cattle is slowing.
Kenny Burdine with the University of Kentucky says the USDA had marketings down 13 percent for January in this month’s Cattle on Feed report.
“I’ve got to go back to 2020 and COVID time period to find something that light,” he says. “And although that is there, it was very much expected by the trade. In fact, it came in right at right at the pre-port estimate.”
He tells Brownfield the pull back isn’t a big surprise. “There probably has been a bit of a conscious effort to try and pull back kill some, just to try and boost boxed beef prices somewhat,” he says. “And this is in response to what have just not been attractive margins for the packers that are buying fed cattle and turning around and moving boxed beef.”
The USDA also had placements down nearly 5 percent from 2025 levels and On Feed inventory was down nearly 2 percent from February 1, 2025.
