May 21, 2007

Cow slaughter in Canadian province escalates

Cow slaughter in Alberta province in Canada for the first quarter has surpassed the 2006 levels by 29 percent.

Cow slaughter in January and the first half of February in the cattle-rich province ranged between 8000 and 9000 heads weekly, as compared to 5500 to 6000 heads per week during the same period of 2006.

Between mid February and the end of March, slaughter rates dropped by 7500-head-a-week range, but still well above the levels during the same time frame of 2006. In April, weekly Alberta slaughter volumes were very similar to year ago, ranged between 5500 and 6000 heads per week.

The April numbers don't necessarily point to an overall slowdown as slaughter volumes usually decline in spring and rebound during the fall as the supply of slaughter cattle increase through the latter half of the year.