An ag economist says this week’s Livestock Slaughter report will provide a more robust look at what’s happening with the U.S. cattle herd. 

University of Missouri livestock economist Scott Brown says year-to-date cattle slaughter is running about 3% behind year-ago levels, but he wants to see the breakdown of the numbers in this week’s report from the USDA. “What does beef cow slaughter look like in any indication we’re building in some parts of the country,” he says. 

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