The drought in the US Great Plains, which is causing consternation among wheat growers, is also threatening moves among cattle farmers to rebuild herds after a decline lasting since the 1970s, US farm officials said.
More than one-third of the American cattle herd is held in the southern states has been left parched by a dearth of rain which has reached "critical" levels in Oklahoma, and encouraged bush fires, largely in Texas, which have burned more than 360,000 acres of land in the past week.
The harsh conditions are threatening to snuff out an apparent willingness among farmers to restock, encouraged by high cattle prices, which set a record 122.875 cents a pound in Chicago last week.
A 5% fall in the slaughter of beef cows in the first three months of the year "could be an indication that producers may be beginning to consider cow-herd stabilisation or even expansion", US Department of Agriculture analyst Rachel Johnson said.
"However, continued dryness in the southern tier of States and scattered additional areas will likely dampen expansion plants in those affected areas."
Indeed, the conditions "could lead to further cow herd reductions", and reduced regional demand for feeder cattle for fattening up on pasture in spring and summer grazing programmes, Ms Johnson said.
Long-term fall
A rebound in cattle numbers would end, or at least interrupt, a decline in cattle numbers dating back to 1974, when US herd numbers peaked at 132m head before beginning a fall which has cut their numbers by 30%.
Part of the decline since has been down to breeding improvements which have increased vastly milk yields in dairy cows, whose total nearly halved over the last 50 years.
Americans' lower beef consumption rates, per person, have also played a part, along with the efficiency savings, and higher returns, which can be made by switching to arable farming.
Fatter margins
Nonetheless, cattle feeders have, so this year, "been in a positive situation, with margins not seen since last May", Ms Johnson said.
"Despite increasing grain and feed prices, margins in Match were well over $100 per head."
However, she warned that beef values "may begin to slip" as the rise in cattle placed on feedlots in the winter feeds through into growing supplies of the meat.
Separate data showed wholesale beef values falling, after rising on Tuesday for the first time in week.
Broker US Commodities said: "Boxed beef continues to struggle to hold recent strength", adding that it expected that live cattle futures have already set a seasonal high.
Ms Johnson added that a USDA cattle report on July 1 would provide an insight on prospects for a herd rebuild, revealing the numbers of heifers that farmers are keeping to breed from.
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