I have come across the following articles this week that may be of interest. Covering off on the US cattle market, US red meat production outlook, five consumer types and gauging customers. Also South Korea's lumpy skin disease outbreak. We have selected an introductory portion of these articles which follows below with the capacity to click through to the full article.
Articles:
Regards,
Richard
Lower 2023 U.S. red meat and poultry production forecasted
2023 cattle price forecast unchanged as hog and poultry prices lowered.
Lower beef, pork, broiler, and turkey forecasts led USDA to reduce its 2023 red meat and poultry production forecast to 1.07 billion pounds (lbs.) in the latest “World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.”
Lower beef production, at 26.93 million lbs. was the result of reduced steer and heifer slaughter that more than offset higher expected cow slaughter and higher average dressed weights in the fourth quarter, USDA noted. Pork production, at 27.22 million lbs., declined due to lighter hog dressed weights in the fourth quarter.
On the poultry and egg side, broiler production was lowered to 46.21 million lbs. due to the number eggs set and chicks placed data which suggests further production declines in the fourth quarter. Turkey production was lowered to 5.5 million lbs. based on current hatchery and slaughter data. USDA slightly raised the egg production forecast to 9.18 million doz. eggs, “as higher third quarter reported data more than offsets a reduced fourth quarter forecast.”
Looking to 2024, USDA raised the beef production forecast to 106.53 billion lbs.....
Selling continues even as cattle markets retreat
November “Cattle on Feed” may show another month of large placements.
Cattle markets continue to decline from September levels, but cattle producers are still taking advantage of much stronger prices. Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel said producers have indicated to him in numerous meetings this fall that the majority of steers and heifers they are selling is to capitalize on higher prices, but also because of ongoing drought and pasture and hay limitations.
Peel relayed that reported national feeder cattle volumes (auction, direct and video/internet) are up 5.6% year over year since Labor Day, with the majority in September, which contributed to the large September feedlot placements. The total volume in October was up 2.4% but down year over year at the end of October and beginning of November. Another month of large placements may be revealed in the next “Cattle on Feed” report, Peel suggested..........
Consumers adapting to keep meat in their diets
While price is of elevated importance, Meat Demand Monitor shows no persistent change in regular consumers of products derived from animal products.
U.S. consumers were willing to pay more for six evaluated retail products, including ribeye steak, ground beef and pork chops, in October compared to September. Willingness-to-pay also increased for all evaluated food service meals last month, except ribeye steak.
According to the October Meat Demand Monitor, the combined beef and pork projected market shares for October were 33% and 21%, respectively at the grocery store and 41% and 14% at the restaurant.
Launched in February 2020, the MDM project is funded in-part by Beef Checkoff and Pork Checkoff and tracks U.S. consumer preferences, views and demand for meat with separate analysis for retail and food service channels. The monthly survey is conducted online with more than 2,000 respondents reflecting the national population........
For beef producers looking to begin or expand a direct-to-consumer business model, start by asking yourself some questions. That’s what Michael Uetz, cofounder of the meat-oriented marketing firm Midan Marketing told Wagyu breeders.
Speaking during the recent World Wagyu Conference in San Antonio, Texas,Uetz encouraged Wagyu breeders to understand their consumer target. “Based on what it is you are providing to the marketplace, who specifically is your target and what drives them to purchase? Why should they pick your product up? That’s what we need to consider every day.”
Click below to read the full article and find out what the five consumer groups are!
South Korea plans mass vaccination of cattle to contain lumpy skin disease
SEOUL, Oct 25 (Reuters) - South Korea plans to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign to contain an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in cattle, the government said on Wednesday, after 29 cases have been reported since the first outbreak last week.
Authorities are in talks with domestic and foreign companies to secure 4 million doses of vaccine by the end of this month, an amount sufficient to inoculate all the cows in the country, the agriculture ministry said.
The highly infectious viral disease, which causes blisters and reduces milk production, is transmitted by blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes, ticks and flies. It does not pose a risk to humans.
A total of 29 cases have been confirmed across South Korea as of Wednesday morning after the country reported its first outbreak of the disease at a cattle farm last week.
Authorities have culled all the cows at the affected facilities and imposed a temporary transport ban at nearby farms, while vaccinating cattle there using 540,000 doses they had in stock, the ministry said.
The government plans to complete the vaccination of all cattle in the country by early next month.
"If the nationwide vaccine inoculation is completed as planned, the outbreak of lumpy skin disease is expected to stabilise within November given the three-week period needed to develop antibodies for immunization," the ministry said in a statement.