Record Drought in Texas and Extra Slaughtering to Meet Demand from China

Texas has experienced the worst drought in the history of the state. It has also seen the worst decline in numbers of cowherds indicating that price of beef will shoot up; demand remains high while the number of animals has declined.

Since 1st January this year the cow numbers had gone down by nearly 600,000 – a drop of 12% from the 5 million animals that the state had during the start of 2011, observed David Anderson of Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Anderson noted that some of the cows were removed to region where there was more grass but many others were killed. This current year 200,000 more cows were slaughtered in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico, noting a 20% spike from the previous year.

The extra beef supply will meet the increase in demand coming from China and some other countries but the reduction in cattle numbers will negatively impact in the future. Anderson said, “Consumers are going to pay more because we’re going to have less beef, fewer cows, calves, less beef production and increasing exports”.

According to the estimates of Department of Agriculture the prices of beef will go up to 5.5 during 2012. In the past year the prices had increased by 9%.

America’s second largest cattle producer is Oklahoma. It too has seen a drop in cows by nearly 12% said agricultural economist Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University. He predicts that nationally production of beef will go down by 4% in 2012.

The drought has been the biggest problem in Texas – the worst in the history of the state. From January till last November the state received 46% of the 26” rainfall it normally experiences. The La Nina pattern of weather has brought about this drought in the south west. Forecasters predict that La Nina will also come back in 2012 – not good news for Texas, Oklahoma and other neighbouring regions.

The pastures withered due to scant rainfall and blistering heat of summer. The rancher had only two alternatives – buy the feed for the cows or sell these off. Septuagenarian rancher Betsy Ross from Granger said she had to sell nearly 80 of her 225 animals that were grass-fed. Price of cattle feed had gone up by 40% and her own pasture had shriveled. Ross did not have much of a choice.