Cattle slaughter in the first two months of the year went up. Nevertheless, the two categories contributing the most head to total slaughter (2–4-tooth steers and cull cows) went down. Over the last year and a half, the average slaughter age for steers has increased because the drop in 2–4-tooth steers was accompanied by a rise in slaughter of older animals. However, this will not become a long-term trend and will reverse relatively quickly.
Steers with 2–4 teeth accounted for 62% of steer slaughter in 2023; in the 12 months ending Feb-25, that figure stood at 54%. Meanwhile, those with 6 teeth or older went from 28% to 37% of the total. There were two factors driving up the slaughter age: the climate and the market. The weather factor played a bigger role. The severe 2023 drought prevented weight increases from keeping up the rapid pace of the previous years, compounded by a weaker price incentive due to the sharp drop in slaughter cattle quotes. This situation in 2023 was followed the next year by the inability to plant forage and pastures because of continuous rain from mid-autumn to winter, which also prevented normal use of what had already been sown.
Thus, there were two consecutive years of weather-related challenges that slowed wiight increases, causing animals to reach slaughter weight later. Furthermore, market conditions did not encourage feed investment.
That scenario has changed. The summer ended with optimal forage conditions, and price incentives are now clear. Feedlots are operating at full capacity. An increase in milk-tooth steer slaughter is already noticeable, and that trend will likely extend to 2–4-tooth steers.
Young steers will once again make up a larger share of total slaughtered steers. However, one factor working against a rise in absolute numbers is live cattle exports. Between 2023 and 2024, around 500,000 calves were exported, animals that began to be missing from the slaughter supply starting in the second half of 2024 and continuing this year. In addition, live export demand is expected to remain intense in the current year. Competition for young animals is fierce (clearly reflected in prices) and will remain so.
