SEGMENT: LIVESTOCK
Doug Parrett>LPL Interviews N-Z>LPL Interviews K-Z, Segment 3
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- LIVESTOCK
- From 1940-1960, we raised small but fatty cattle. Leaner animals grow faster and slow down when they fatten up. Went to exotic breeds like Charolais, Simmental, and others used as draft, milk, and beef. They were much larger. The first half-blood Chianina he saw was six feet high weighing 3000 pounds. These crosses had less fat. They will weigh 1300 pounds a year. Bigger cattle have calving problems. Have to buy more feed. Benefits and drawbacks. Now we are at moderates. Sell lower quality meat to fast food chains, better meat to restaurants. Sell between 12 and 18 months of age. Faster growing breeds sell at 14 months. American public demands tasty meats that are marbled. Could do leaner meats immediately. Higher grain prices could cause economic problems for meat producers. Corn was always two dollars a bushel. Now corn is eight dollars a bushel. Food prices are higher because of fuel, labor, marketing, etc. Producers cannot demand higher prices. Worries about meat prices for consumers.
