Slaughter of dairy cows has declined substantially since the fourth week of 2025 to levels below 2024 and 2023.

U.S. Cattle on Feed report shows a 2% drop in feedlot numbers and an 18% decline in placements catches eye of an analyst.

The current feedback loop of high prices and the sale of beef cows for slaughter instead of breeding is creating an unprecedented updraft, leading to record prices and leaving it anyone’s guess when ...