Signs are pointing to a rebuilding of the cattle herd in response to continued strong consumer demand driven by increasing quality. That was the message from CattleFax CEO Randy Blach to attendees of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference as it got underway last Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas. Blach said beef demand is at a 37-year high and that while herd expansion is very slow, he feels January of 2025 likely marked the low in the current cycle.
That strong global demand shows the industry needs to remain focused on the long term, according to USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.
Another featured speaker at Wednesday’s session was Rick Stott, president and CEO of Superior Farms, who shared the story of how his company successfully defeated a ballot proposition to ban slaughter facilities in Denver with 65% of the vote. The ban would have closed Superior Farms’ lamb processing facility that employs some 150 local residents.
For more information, visit usmef.org.
