More US Beef Plants May Close as Cattle Herds Keep Shrinking

American beef plants are under threat as the number of cattle destined for their facilities stays far below historical levels, reflecting the smallest herd in more than half a century.

Cattle placed in US feedlots, where animals are fed until ready to be slaughtered, dropped 11% from a year ago to a record low for November, according to a US Department of Agriculture report Friday. That follows earlier figures for October — typically the strongest month — that were also at the lowest level for the period.