The USDA’s latest Cattle Inventory report points to at least some contraction in the cattle industry continuing. The total number of beef cows dropped nearly a percent in July’s Cattle Inventory report, signaling small reductions in cattle numbers. 

But, University of Missouri livestock economist Scott Brown says contraction could be accelerated by two factors. One of those is weather.  “We have some dry parts in the US that I think could affect cow inventory,” he says. 

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