Urus Group LP, one of the world’s major marketers of bovine genetics, completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Leachman Cattle of Colorado, one of the largest and most respected seedstock producers in the U.S.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its midyear Cattle report on July 21, offering an important update on cattle inventories. The report confirmed that the U.S. cow herd has continued to decline through the first half of the year.

Since January, slaughter data has indicated a 12% decline in beef cow slaughter. This is likely a combination of improving pasture conditions, sufficient reductions in animal units per acre on poorer pastures and the prospect of improved profitability from selling calves.

Beef exports in May, while trending below last year’s record levels, have, in many international markets, reached the highest levels so far in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced that the USDA is providing 15 awards totaling $115 million in 17 states that will go toward beefing up independent processing capacity across the country.

The USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed report on June 23, indicating a 3% decrease from year-ago levels. On feedlots with more than 1,000 head of capacity, 11.6 million cattle are on feed for slaughter in the U.S. Feedlot placements for the month of May totaled 1.96 million head, up 5% from 2022, with net placements at 1.88 million head.