April 16, 2013

Kansas, US, sees lowest feedlot cattle numbers in 14 years

Beef cattle on the feedlots of Kansas, US, are at their lowest point in 14 years, due to an on-going drought.

Industry officials warned that some producers could find themselves out of business if the drought continues.

On March 1, there were 2.05 million cattle on Kansas feedlots, which is about 7% fewer than the same period a year ago, according to the USDA. Dried-up pastures and shrinking corn and soy crops have made it costlier to keep the cattle fed.

Conversely, the state's dairy cattle count is up slightly from last year, but milk production is down about 45 pounds per cow, the USDA said.

Scarlett Hagins, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Livestock Association, said the high cost of feeding cattle has led some producers to sell younger cattle and keep fewer breeding heifers.

"Because of the drought they haven't been able to rebuild their herds," she said. "They're still trying to maintain the core of their herd."

Even if weather conditions improve and there was adequate moisture this year, rebuilding herds is not going to happen overnight, Hagins said.

Milk production in Kansas was up 3.7% in February to about 222 million pounds, the USDA reported.

A few dairy farms, which had closed in prior years, reopened recently, said Mike Bodenhausen, executive director of the Kansas Dairy Association. Most states are seeing their dairy industries shrink, he said, but Kansas is one of the few that are making up for lost production.

Still, times are tight for Kansas dairy farmers as feeding cattle has become more expensive. Dairy cows typically eat a "ration" of hay, alfalfa and other ingredients that have become increasingly scarce due to the drought, Bodenhausen said.