In the US, retail beef demand fell by two per cent between the January and August. Supply of cattle to slaughter is also falling as is supply of cattle to feedlots.
       
       With prices low, it is expected that the falling supply will push cattle prices up. With this in mind, industry experts are recommending retaining ownership of calves until prices increase - for more information see this week’s feature Retained Ownership.
       
       Over in the UK, EBLEX is warning producers against selling under-finished cattle. Slaughter of cattle has increased slightly over the last month, however it is still lower than it was a year ago.
       
       Slovenia has seen increases in the number of cattle slaughtered, as has Australia. As the temperature rises, supply of cattle to slaughter is steadily increasing, however demand is still weak and prices are continuing to fall. However, with Korean beef prices higher than usual, imports of Australian and US beef to Korea are the highest they have been in a year.
       
       Animal welfare is continuing to be of importance to producers, as Rabobank report that more than 40 per cent of farmers in the US are altering farming practices and methods in response to the introduction of the Food Safety Working Group, in the expectation of changes in law. In Michigan, a farm bill was introduced to protect farm animals with regard to living space.
       
       
       Source: The BeefSite, October 21,2009. Elaborated by ABIEC.