404: Is the Cattle Industry’s “House of Cards” Starting to Crumble? with Travis Mulliniks

The cattle industry has had no shortage of headlines, and on today’s episode of the Cattle USA Daily Podcast, Lauren Moylan welcomes back Travis Mulliniks to break down what producers are facing right now. From Tyson plant closures, drought and wildfires to the return of Mexican cattle, changing beef policies, high cattle prices and questions surrounding herd rebuilding, Travis shares his perspective on the many moving pieces shaping the industry. The conversation also looks at processing capacity, cattle supply, long-term ranch planning, investing in the operation, and why producers should focus on what they can control rather than trying to predict the market.

Links:

Oregon State Travis Mulliniks: https://anrs.oregonstate.edu/directory/people/travis-mulliniks

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
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Key Takeaways:

• Tyson plant closures and changing slaughter capacity
• Mexican cattle returning to the U.S.
• Drought and wildfires limiting herd rebuilding
• High cattle prices and pressure for lower beef prices
• The challenges facing the next generation of ranchers
• Why herd rebuilding depends on both economics and environment
• Making long-term decisions during high cattle prices
• Investing in cattle, genetics, facilities and the ranch
• Taking emotion and bias out of business decisions
• Focusing on what your operation does best
• Preparing today's ranch for the next 10, 20 and 30 years
• Building resilience through continued industry change

Chapters:

01:22 – Everything Happening in the Cattle Industry02:32 – Tyson Closures & Industry Changes03:08 – The Next Generation & Mental Health04:42 – U.S. Beef Quality & Demand06:31 – Social Media & the Cattle Industry07:56 – What Tyson Closures Could Mean11:25 – Are We Rebuilding the Cattle Herd?14:30 – Making Long-Term Ranch Decisions16:49 – Taking Emotion Out of Business Decisions18:09 – Where Successful Ranchers Are Investing21:21 – What Producers Should Focus On23:01 – Positioning the Ranch for the Future

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