Page 3 - MWC 3-9-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · March 9, 2023 · P3

March 9, 2023 Volume 29 No. 3

BRAZIL CONFIRMS BSE CASE, CATTLE ON FEED INVENTORIES DECLINE
HALTS EXPORTS TO CHINA FOR A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH
Brazil's beef exports to By James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas
China were halted after a According to the latest February 1 inventories, 620
case of mad cow disease was USDA Cattle on Feed re- thousand head or 2% higher.
confirmed in the northern port, feedlot inventories were Feedlot placements have
state of Para, according to below year-ago levels for been below year-ago levels
the country's agriculture and the fifth consecutive month. since September 2022. Jan-
livestock ministry. There was an estimated uary feedlot placements de-
The suspension is part of 11.70 million head of cat- clined 3.4% year over year
an animal health pact previ- tle on feed as of February 1, to 1.93 million head. Except
ously agreed between China 4% lower than February 1, for cattle weighing 700-799
and Brazil and is expected to Brazil's beef exports to China were halted 2022. For perspective, Febru- lbs, placements across all
be temporary. It is a blow to after a case of mad cow disease was ary 2022 feedlot inventories weight categories (<600 Lbs,
confirmed in the northern state of Para,
Brazilian farmers, as China the country's agriculture and livestock were historically large, part- 600-699 Lbs, >800 Lbs) were
is the main destination for ministry said. ly explaining the 4% decline. all down by more than 3%.
Brazil's beef exports. That is, comparing invento- Lower placements will have
"All measures are being said Minister Carlos Favaro. ries this year to a historically important implications for
taken immediately at each A case of the disease, for- large number last year. beef production in 2023.
stage of the investigation mally called bovine spon- Looking at fore-
and the matter is being han- giform encephalitis, was casts from the Feb-
dled with total transparency confirmed earlier by Para's ruary World Ag-
to guarantee Brazilian and agricultural defense agency. ricultural Supply
global consumers the recog- "The symptomatology in- and Demand Esti-
nized quality of our meat," continued on page 10 mates (WASDE),
USDA expects beef
U.S. BEEF CATTLE INVENTORY LOWEST SINCE 1962 production to de-
U.S. Beef herd down due to input prices and drought. cline 6% in 2023.
The February beef
By Ryan McGeeney production fore-
Beef cattle inventories Kenny Burdine and James cast reflects an
across the United States are Mitchell, extension livestock upward revision of
at their lowest point in more economist for the University 50 million pounds
than six decades, according of Arkansas System Division On-feed inventories were compared to USDA’s Janu-
to the U.S. Department of Ag- of Agriculture, wrote that the 4% lower in Kansas and 6% ary forecast, which offers im-
riculture. decline came as no surprise. lower in Texas. February 1 portant insights. Higher beef
In its biannual feedlot inventories in Ne- cow and fed heifer slaughter
cattle report, USDA braska totaled 2.57 million elevated beef production in
reported a total of head and were 3% lower than 2022, reflecting worsening
89.3 million head last year’s February total. drought conditions. If USDA
as of Jan. 1, 2023 Even larger declines were continues to revise the 2023
— 3% lower than observed in Oklahoma (11% beef production forecast up-
the total reported lower year over year) and ward, it will suggest that
a year ago, and the Colorado (10% lower year drought conditions still need
lowest since 2015. over year). Among the major to improve to moderate beef
Beef cattle — those cattle-feeding regions, Iowa cow and heifer slaughter.
bred specifically for was one of just a few states
slaughter and meat STEEP DECLINE — In its bi-annual cattle report, that reported an increase in
sales — declined USDA reported a total of 89.3 million head as of Jan. 1,
2023 — 3 percent lower than the total reported a year
3.6%, to 28.9 mil- ago, and the lowest since 2015. Beef cattle — those bred
lion head, the low- specifically for slaughter and meat sales — declined 3.6 Coming Sales-46
est total recorded percent, to 28.9 million head, the lowest total recorded Life is Simple-5
by the agency since 1962. (USDA)
by the agency since Market Report-8
1962. “There was no question
In “Cattle Market Notes that the beef cow herd had Agribusiness
Weekly,” a newsletter fo- gotten smaller,” Burdine and Directory-44
cused on the cattle industry, Mitchell said. It was “just a
University of Kentucky’s
continued on page 10