The plant has capacity to slaughter about five per cent of total U.S. marketings.
The company promised to keep paying about 3,800 workers until the plant is rebuilt. It could slaughter 5,600 to 6,000 cattle per day.
Stephens Inc. analyst Ben Bienvenu estimated this plant accounts for 15 to 25 per cent of Tyson’s beef processing capacity.
Live cattle futures prices fell the daily limit on Monday morning, as one less processing plant means less demand for cattle in the immediate term.
