AGman Quote,That data source is completely WRONG. Whatever your source is Porker that data is incorrect for this year and last year or it is seriously outdated. Domestic cow slaughter peaked at 7.2 million head in 1996. Domestic cow slaughter in 2004 was 5.1 million head down from 6.05 million head in 2003. This year cow slaughter will not exceed 4.8 million head. Weekly cow slaughter YTD has been BELOW year ago level by approximately 6,700 head per week.

The Source was USDA records for 2002-2003 http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/erssor/livestock/ldp-mbb/2003/ldpm109f.pdf     and I believe that when the price increased for cows when the border closed ,there were so many animals pulled foward as the prices were highest on record that every one dumped cows an now there is a shortage .There are just not the cow inventory out there anymore.