New trade disruptions, such as the 25 percent tariffs on Canadian feeder cattle, could possibly lead to more cattle being kept on pasture in Canada, which may lead to lower prices due to the retained, larger cattle population. Conversely, less beef being processed in the U.S. from Canadian cattle might result in higher U.S. beef prices than would normally have occurred. However, the potential for lower prices for Canadian cattle could be a disincentive for the Canadian cattle industry to stabilize or increase production. According to Kansas State University’s “Focus on Feedlots” monthly data, feed costs for steers and heifers have dropped from last year’s levels. The KSU data shows that average feeding costs are the...

TAGS – Livestock, North America