BRAZIL.
CATTLE KILL DOWN.
The cattle slaughter in Brazil, was down for the first 9 months of 2008, just 22 million head of cattle.
This is an average of 5.6% less cattle, than the same time last year.
There are several factors, first the new live cattle shipping from Brazil, that started in earnest this year and secondly the mild season, meaning cattle have been left in the paddock, for the last two months since prices tumbled.
There have been more cows taken on for an extra season to get a calf, that would normally have gone for slaughter, while farmers are trying to increase their herd numbers.
This trend will continue, if the present commodity prices do not improve for soy and wheat.
Many farmers who left beef for arable farming, will be returning to beef as soon as it is practical.