The United States is heading into the biggest decline in beef slaughter since 1979 next year, predicts the United States Department of Agriculture.
It said drought is the reason, prompting farmers to send heifers to feedlots this year and cows to slaughter.
In the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, USDA forecast 2023 U.S. beef production of 26.343 billion pounds, down by 7.3 per cent from 2022 levels.
The agency cut the estimate by 90 million pounds this month from it prediction last month.
