Page 14 - MWC 8-20-20s

Cull Cow Market The Midwest Cattleman · August 20, 2020 · P14

Dynamics

By Josh Maples, Department of Agricultural Economics,
Mississippi State University

No segment of the cattle in- Cull cow slaughter comes
dustry has been spared from from both beef and dairy cows.
the uncertainty and turmoil In 2019, the split for total fed-
driven by COVID-19. How- erally inspected cow slaugh-
ever, the dynamics for the ter was about 50/50 between
slaughter cow market have beef and dairy cows. But the
been a little different than seasonal patterns of beef
those for the live cattle com- and dairy cow slaughter are
ing from feedlots that have a little different. Dairy cow
garnered the most discussion slaughter typically declines ruptions shows that beef and cisions to wait or by auction
due to plant disruptions. from the first of the year to dairy cow slaughter faced dif- slowdowns. The relatively
Slaughter cow prices have a seasonal low in June/July. ferent reductions. The worst strong prices combined with
been one of the few bright Beef cow slaughter varies too week for beef cow slaughter the low beef cow slaughter
spots for cattle producers over with production cycles and capacity compared to 2019 in April provides rationale
the past few months. Slaugh- declines in the summer but is was in late April when beef for the increase in beef cow
ter cow prices in the Southern typically a little more consis- cow slaughter was 19.5 per- slaughter in June.
Plains averaged $57.84 over tent than dairy through the cent below the same week For the year, beef cow
the past 6 weeks of available spring and summer months a year ago. Total dairy cow slaughter is up about 2 per-
data which is 19.5 percent before peaking as the winter slaughter didn’t show the cent while dairy cow slaugh-
above the same period in months approach. same level of reductions com- ter is down 2 percent. To-
2019. Generally, cull cow mar- A look at the processing pared to a year ago. Dairy gether, year-to-date total
kets are most directly related changes during the worst cow slaughter declined from cow slaughter is about the
with ground beef demand. months of plant labor dis- week-to-week for most of same as compared to a year
the Spring but that occurred ago. Lower calf prices could
alongside the typical seasonal drive increased beef cow cull-
decline. ing later in the year. Dairy
The number of beef cows slaughter is near the season-
processed increased through al low point and milk prices
Located 45 mi. SE of Kansas City, Mo on 58 Hwy. east at May and into June. For the have rebounded which may
Modern Kingsville Livestock Auction Center at Kingsville, MO first two weeks of June, beef likely prevent significant
cow slaughter is up 6.7 per- dairy cow culling. While the
cent compared to the same supply picture is becoming a
Make Plans To Attend Our Next two weeks a year ago. Sim- little clearer, ground beef de-
ilar to what occurred in calf mand will continue to be key
September Special and feeder cattle sales, at for support of beef cow cull
least some of this increase prices.
Cow Sale may likely be due to sales de-
lays caused by producers’ de-

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