Livestock farmers in the US have no choice but to cull

With many slaughterhouses in the United States forced to close their doors, American livestock farmers have no choice but to cull their animals. A sad situation that provokes a lot of resistance. 

Because there are many corona infections among slaughterhouse employees, major players (such as Smithfield, JBS and Tyson Foods) for a few weeks already closed the doors of several large locations. It is reported that 20% of the American pig slaughter capacity is at a standstill, which amounts to a sloppy 100.000 slaughters per day less. Large cattle and poultry slaughterhouses are also standing still. 

Million pigs above the market
Due to the congestion in the production process, many pig farms are now overcrowded. The situation is especially dire in the Midwest, with large pig states such as Iowa and Minnesota. There are reportedly about a million pigs hanging above the market that need to be slaughtered. This number continues to increase by the day.

The National Pork Board's Advocate for American Pig Farmers held last Sunday a video conference explaining how pigs can be culled. It is recommended to subsequently bury, burn or compost the carcasses. 

Culling pregnant sows
In the American media, various pig farmers reacted with shock to the situation that has arisen. The culling of healthy animals goes against their principles. Yet they have no choice but to do this. Sow owner Al van Beek of Iowa says he has put his gestational sows to sleep to prevent new litters. Some of his colleagues do the same. Poultry farmers have also started culling. Cattle farmers have a fall-back option because they can use pasture grazing. 

Not only the livestock farmers, but also slaughterhouses are at a loss. In a full-page advertisement in the newspaper 'The Post', Tyson Foods warns against empty meat shelves in supermarkets. CEO John Tyson says millions of animals will have to be culled if the slaughterhouses are to remain closed.

The US government has offered help to cull animals. Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) set up a coordination center for affected livestock farmers. It is not yet known when the slaughterhouses in the country can open again.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.