It was recently announced by Cooperatives Working Together that 86,710 of their dairy cows are destined for slaughter for the ground beef market. This is the second largest herd retirement since the farmer-funded project was set-up in 2003. The US cattle herd has been shrinking for some time and the USDA cattle inventory for July 1 was at its lowest at 101.8 million head.
Export sales of raw hides during the period under review showed China once more in their regular top position with 1,074,300 against 1,303,000 and 1,414,700 in the two previous reports, respectively. With Hong Kong taking 55,200 (180,100 and 105,400) the region took a combined total of 1,129,500. Korea was again in second place with 257,800 (534,600, 683,500) followed by Taiwan with 111,400 (92,500, 314,100).
Mexico was in fourth place with 84,200 (109,800, 98,300) followed by Thailand with 64,100 (91,400, 96,500); Vietnam with 51,600 (25,600, 83,700); and Japan with 19,400 (46,800, 48,600).
Canada purchased 11,300 (14,800, 8,100); India 2,500 (19,300, 2,000); Italy 1,700 (15,700, 127,500); Tunisia 1,500; and Turkey with 1,000 (3,400, 16,600).
In addition to the raw hides, 13,600 kip (12,400) went to Holland; 5,500 kip each went to Hong Kong (2,700) and Taiwan; and 2,000 calf and kip to China.
Sales of wet-blue for export during the period under review showed China again in top position with 214,000 (136,500, 52,000); Mexico in second place with 118,500 (109,900, 96,200) followed by Taiwan with 87,400 (2,400, 16,100).
Next came Italy with 30,300 (49,5000, 83,700); Thailand 15,000 (39,500, 22,400); Vietnam 13,600 (20,500, 24,400); the Dominican Republic 11,300 (4,200); and Korea 7,500 (12,700).
Korea also contracted for 630,000lb of wet-blue splits. Hong Kong took 256,000lb; Indonesia 200,000lb; Taiwan 143,900; China 81,200lb and Mexico 8,000lb.
