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Derrell Peel Explores The Important Role Of Expectations In The Beef Industry

Mar 18, 2014

By Derrell Peel

Cattle and beef prices are at record levels in every industry sector, from cow-calf to retail beef prices. These record prices are obviously supported by a very unusual set of supply and demand circumstances. So far in 2014, markets- especially fed cattle and wholesale beef markets-have displayed unprecedented volatility as industry participants try to sort out these unusual market fundamentals in a very dynamic market environment. Both producers and consumers are reacting, not only to current record prices, but also to their evolving expectations for market conditions over the coming weeks, months and years.

Much attention is focused on the low cow herd inventory and the need to rebuild. After many years of liquidation, the result of a variety of factors impacting the beef industry, the current situation reminds us that it is the cow-calf sector that is primarily responsible for supply in the beef industry. Until cow-calf producers can and will expand the cow herd, the industry’s ability to maintain beef production will be limited. Cow-calf producers make decisions about herd rebuilding by considering, not only current price levels, but also their expectations about how high prices will go and how long they will persist.

The cattle industry has a long history of production and price cycles so producers recognize that high prices now will likely lead to lower prices at some point in the future…it’s the old adage that the best cure for high prices is high prices.   


However, the current situation is one of excess liquidation due to external factors that have taken cattle inventories to a much lower level than would have otherwise happened. The beef cow herd was poised to begin expansion in early 2011, prior to the last three years of drought. The beef cow herd then was some 1.8 million head larger than today. Moreover, the last cyclical expansion began in 2004 with a beef cow herd of 32.5 million head, with some 3.49 million more beef cows than today.

That expansion was brief and truncated by feed and input market shocks; recession; and drought that contributed to the subsequent liquidation since 2007. The path to the current herd level was long and the recovery will similarly take several years which should factor into producer expectations for most of the rest of the decade.
 

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