LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD NEWS) — Uncertainty around U.S. beef processing capacity is raising fresh questions about whether large-scale heifer retention is even necessary as the industry looks toward rebuilding the cow herd. Recent plant closures and production cutbacks suggest slaughter capacity may shrink before expansion efforts fully begin.
According to analysis from Don Close of Terrain, Tyson Foods’ decision to close its Lexington, Nebraska, beef plant and reduce production at its Amarillo, Texas, facility has altered the balance between fed cattle supply and slaughter capacity. With fewer cattle needed by packers, feedyards may be able to meet demand using existing inventories, reducing the need to bid aggressively for feeder cattle.
USDA data continue to show that heifer retention has not meaningfully started. Heifers on feed remained flat through the third quarter, confirming that producers have not yet shifted toward herd rebuilding. At the same time, years of cow liquidation across both beef and dairy sectors have left an aging herd with limited replacement depth.
Close warns that further reductions in processing capacity could discourage expansion, locking the industry into tighter supplies and slower recovery.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Shrinking slaughter capacity may delay heifer retention, complicating herd rebuilding plans.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
February 03, 2026 12:58 PM
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