Number of Mexican Cattle to US Halves
MEXICO – Lower cattle inventories and a rise in home-grown beef sourcing have contributed to Mexican cattle exports to the US almost halving.
24 October 2013
1 minute read
Latest cattle trading figures for the last ‘crop year’ reveal that 800,000 cattle were trucked to the US, equating to a 47 per cent decline.
This figure relates to the annual cycles running from September to the August of the following year.
While the drop is considerable, the latest season follows a bumper 2011/12 period, according to Dr Derell S Peel, a livestock marketing expert at Oklahoma State University.
Nevertheless, the last cycle's total is 17 per cent below the 2004-2010 average and is affecting even the most prolific exporting regions - Durango and Sonara.
“Several states are down,” said Dr Peel. “Not only from last year, but are also below long term average levels indicating the drawdown in cattle inventories in those states.”
Lower numbers are being seen in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Zacatecas, he added.
“Two important exporting States, Durango and Sonora, whose exports were down in the 12 month period, were still exporting at levels higher than the long term average,” added Dr Peel.
“However, the long term average in Durango reflects several years of reduced exports due to disease restrictions.
“In general, the drop in Mexican cattle exports to the U.S. reflects an overall shortage of cattle inventories in the country as well as demand for cattle in Mexico to maintain domestic beef production.”
