Page 12 - MWC 10-6-2022s

MEAT DEMAND HOLDING STEADY The Midwest Cattleman · October 6, 2022 · P12

Kansas State Universi- ern states, including Florida ASIAN LONGHORNED tracking down the causes for
such signs.
ty livestock economist Glynn and Texas. He said he hoped continued from page 10
Tonsor reported recently that this increase would offset what to thrive, and this problem may “Symptoms of this disease
consumer demand for pro- was a little bit of a pullback in get worse going forward as can be often mistaken for an-
teins, including beef, pork, and retail demand. the planet continues to warm, aplasmosis, so we encourage
producers and practitioners to
chicken, is holding steady. He Tonsor also reported that which is concerning,” Raghavan
attributes this, in large part, to consumer purchases at mer- said. “We must be vigilant and be vigilant and get their ani-
a surge in the foodservice in- chandisers and club stores rose devote resources toward try- mals tested whenever there is a
dustry. in August, a possible response ing to prevent these ticks from doubt,” Ierardi said. "Although
these Longhorned ticks are
“The demand for dinner to inflation. spreading diseases that harm
meals away from home was up “This is an indication that the health of cattle, humans, known to transmit a number
of human disease pathogens,
from July to August,” Tonsor folks are shifting where they and their pets. The discovery
said, noting that demand for buy protein, and probably buy- of Longhorned ticks in north- at the moment the threat from
grocery store retail meat was ing a bigger volume,” he said. ern Missouri greatly increases them appears to be mostly bo-
down in August. “They may have a more ex- the need for more vigilance to- vine theileriosis, which impacts
cattle.”
Prior to last month, food- pensive trip to the store, but I wards ticks in general and the
service purchases represented think they’re finding ways to need for routine monitoring of For more information about
a weakness in the U.S. meat get the price per pound lower the pathogens they transmit.” Longhorned ticks, visit the
market, but August’s figures by buying larger quantities, Ierardi encourages cattle United States Department of
Agriculture Animal and Plant
indicated an increase in de- then taking it home and cut- ranchers who notice weakness,
mand for lunch and dinner. ting it up.” jaundice, and pregnancy loss Health Inspection Service
(USDA APHIS) website.
According to Tonsor, the trend KLA in their cattle to contact their
of eating in restaurants was local veterinarian and the MU Drovers
particularly strong in south- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
Laboratory for assistance with

DROUGHT CONTINUES TO DRIVE FEEDLOT PLACEMENTS HIGHER IN AUGUST
By James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas
The September 1st Cattle year over year. Examining ern Plains were likely forced to
on Feed report showed feedlot placements by weight category early wean calves this year.
inventories totaling 11.3 mil- and region provides a detailed Feedlot placements of cat-
lion head. Importantly, the re- picture of how the drought has tle weighing more than 700
port notes this was the second pressured producers. pounds (feeders for short) to-
largest September feedlot in- Feedlot placements of cattle taled 1.36 million head or 1.9%
ventory since the report began weighing less than 700 pounds lower year over year. Place-
in 1996. Drought continues to (calves for short) totaled 750 ments of heavier feeder cat-
play a key role in the move- thousand head or 4.9% higher tle have run below year-ago
ment of cattle into feedlots this year over year. In Texas, Au- levels since May. Seasonally,
year. gust placements of calves to- placements of cattle weighing Regionally, feedlot invento-
Drought dynamics add an- taled 290 thousand head and more than 700 pounds tend ries in Texas, Oklahoma, Ne-
other layer of complexity to were 11.5% higher compared to be highest in May, August, braska, Minnesota, and Iowa
feedlot inventory and place- to August 2021. Similarly, Au- and September. Looking back are all above or even with year-
ment numbers. Pre-report gust placements of calves in at the drought map for April ago levels. Inventories in Colo-
expectations for feedlot place- Kansas totaled 165 thousand and May suggests that oppor- rado and Kansas are current-
ments ranged from 6.8% lower head and were 6.5% higher tunities for grazing summer ly below levels from the same
to 0.9% higher year over year, year over year. Feedlot place- stockers were severely limit- time last year. As we have
suggesting that last month’s ments of cattle weighing less ed in the Southern Plains be- mentioned in previous articles,
placement total was anyone’s than 700 pounds were 14.3% cause of drought. Tighter sup- the longer it takes for feedlot
guess. August feedlot place- lower in Colorado and were plies of heavy feeder cattle also inventories to dip below year-
ments totaled 2.11 million even with year-ago totals in change feedlot inventory and ago levels, the more significant
head, the highest August total Nebraska. The data suggest slaughter cattle dynamics for the eventual decline.
since 2011 and 0.4% higher that producers in the South- late 2022 and early 2023.