Agricultural News
Strong Herd Rebuilding for 2015, Peel Says More Cows Needed Over Next Three Years
Tue, 22 Dec 2015 16:05:50 CST
On today's edition of the Beef Buzz, we're reviewing 2015 and looking ahead to 2016 with Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel. Herd rebuilding continued this past year. Peel said there is no doubt herd rebuilding has taken place. He estimates upwards of one-million head of cows were added this past year.
The bigger unknown is how the downturn in the cattle markets have effected growth going forward. Peel said it's hard to tell if that caused producers to change their plans on heifer retention. He doesn't think producers will change their plans for heifers that are set to calve in the first half of 2015. There's more uncertainty about the new crop of fall heifers. Peel doesn't look for these changes to impact 2016 cow numbers, but rather 2017.
In trying to find that ideal size for the U.S. beef cow herd, there are a lot factors influencing those numbers. Peel said that includes supply, domestic demand and international demand. While domestic demand has stayed strong, international demand has struggled with the stronger U.S. dollar. In going forward, he said recovery in the export markets will determine the size of the U.S. cowherd. With heavier carcass weights over the last two years, he said there won't be as many cattle needed. He said that could actually shave off the size of the cowherd. If the U.S. adds roughly a million head of cattle in 2015, Peel thinks potentially another million to million and half head will be needed going forward. That could happen over 2016, 2017 and potentially into 2018.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays featured Peel on the Beef Buzz feature. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
