By Jamie Martin
Paul Beck, a Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist at Oklahoma State University, has outlined the profound impact of drought on the US beef cattle industry. His report shows a notable increase in drought frequency and severity since the early 2000s, contrasting with the relatively wet conditions that characterized the late 20th century.
This shift is critical as it coincides with the development of modern beef cattle production practices, which may not be sustainable under these harsher conditions.
Beck's report aligns these climate changes with significant fluctuations in cattle numbers, which have seen decreases during prolonged drought periods, such as between 2011 and 2013, and again in 2021 through 2023, each time by approximately 2.5%.
The report further analyzes the cattle cycle's expansions and contractions, demonstrating how these are driven by drought conditions.
For instance, a temporary improvement in conditions around 2018 led to a 3.5% increase in the beef cattle herd, which subsequently fell due to renewed droughts.
The US beef cow herd stands at 28.2 million heads, down from nearly 32 million needed to sustain feedlot supply. This shortage has pushed up prices and triggered adjustments in cattle management practices, including longer feeding periods and adjustments in feedlot entry weights.
Beck emphasizes the broader implications of recurring droughts on agricultural productivity, including the impact on feed prices and the availability of quality grazing land, which in turn affects the overall economy of the beef industry.
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Categories: National