Markets
Beef Supply and Demand Challenges Continue
By Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State Univeristy Extension
As expected, supply pressures
continue to build in beef
markets. Beef production so
far this year is up 3.6 percent
on larger cattle slaughter and
increased carcass weights. Year
to date cattle slaughter is up
3.8 percent driven by increases
150 | JUNE/JULY 2018
in female slaughter. Heifer
slaughter is up 8.0 percent year
over year and cow slaughter is
up 8.1 percent so far this year.
Beef cow slaughter is up 12.2
percent and dairy cow slaughter
is 4.5 percent more than last
year. Steer slaughter is up a
scant 0.1 percent year over year.
Cattle carcass weights are up
year over year after dropping
sharply in 2017. Overall carcass
weights are up about 5 pounds
for the year. Steer carcass