National Beef Herd May Have Hit Bottom
After six years of declines, the U.S. cattle herd just ticked upward — and the reasons behind it say a lot about where the beef industry might be headed.
cattle herd
Expert Isn't Convinced The National Herd Is Rebuilding
Heifers are down to 37% in the latest cattle report, raising eyebrows among local ranchers. What does this mean for future herds?
Smaller Cattle Herd Means Market Volatility, AFBF Says
A sharp decline in the U.S. cattle herd is stirring up the beef market. Expect some surprises on those grocery bills in the coming months.
National Beef Herd Appears To Be Contracting
More signs of a contracting beef herd, courtesy of USDA’s August Cattle on Feed report.
National Cattle Herd Is Slowly Rebuilding
As the U.S. red meat industry gathers in Fort Worth, TX, this week for the U.S. Meat Export Federation Spring Conference, keynote speaker Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, said the cattle herd rebuilding may finally be gaining traction.
“We're still in tight fed cattle supplies. We've got...
National Herd Remains Contracted
USDA’s April Cattle on Feed Report showed the herd size remains smaller year-over-year, but indicates efforts continue to build up inventory.
“The number of cattle on feed and feed lots on April 1st was 11.64 million ahead. This was about ...
U.S. Cattle Herd Contraction is Slowing
The recent Cattle on Feed Report was called neutral-to-slightly-positive by American Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson. He said the overall rate of contraction in the U.S. cattle herd has slowed. However, factors like demand, beef prices, and trade, among other factors, will influence producers’ decisions about what to do with their animals.
“Cash prices for...
Still To Early To Tell If Beef Remains In Contraction Mode
Are beef cattle producers starting to hold back some heifers for breeding or not?
Are we still in contraction mode?
Friday's USDA Cattle on Feed report offers hardly any clue to that. USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam said we will have to wait a month for the next real clue.
“When...
Cattle Herd Contraction Appears To Be Continuing
How big is the U.S. cattle herd? Budget constraints have caused the USDA to limit the number of reports it releases. Among these is the July Cattle Inventory Report. However, there is enough historical context from which some conclusions may be drawn.
“A model estimates t...
Record Sales: Dollars and Head
Before the conclusion of July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the Cattle Inventory report that revealed a lower head count in the national cattle herd, and that is leading to higher prices.