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Kehoe: beef processing growth strengthening Missouri cattle sector

Missouri’s Governor says expanding meat processing in the state is providing a boost to the state’s cattle industry. 

Mike Kehoe spoke to an ag audience at the University of Missouri on Wednesday. 

“We have the chicken and egg theory. We have a processor who wants fat cattle and there are people who say they’re not going to fatten cattle until we have a processor. That market is starting to work out.”

The American Foods Group in Warren County started processing cattle almost one year ago, and Kehoe says at full capacity, the plant will process around 2,500 head per day.

“Now that we have a place that will take the fat cattle, we’re starting to have Missouri cattle production facilities instead of just backgrounding actually fattening cattle.”

He says it’s a win-win for other commodities, because livestock feed is the largest demand driver for U.S. corn and soybeans.

Kehoe says it could incentivize producers to retain cattle and eventually help in rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd.