USA: U.S hides and skins market update

Written by Stephen Sothmann, President, U.S Hides, Skins and Leather Association. As 2014 ends, one of the most important questions facing the U.S hides and skins industry is whether the cattle herd is finally entering a rebuilding phase. Years of persistent drought, high feed costs, and other negative factors have stunted herd growth efforts and resulted in one of the smallest cattle inventories in over six decades. Not since 1951 has the U.S herd been at its present level of 88 million head. The drop in inventory has likewise resulted in a progressively lower annual slaughter rate, with overall 2014 slaughter dropping 7% below 2013 levels up to the month of October.