A new University of California-Davis study is giving us a clearer picture of just how costly wolves can be for ranchers.
Researchers found that a single gray wolf can cause up to $162,000 in losses due to reduced cattle weight and pregnancy rates. They also found cattle DNA in 72 percent of wolf scat samples and signs of elevated stress in herds near wolf territory. Total indirect losses could reach nearly $3.5 million across three wolf packs.
Ranchers are calling for the animals to be removed from the Endangered Species List.
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RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney explains why the 2026 USMCA review could directly affect dairy access, produce competition, and export reliability for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
The report shows that, despite production challenges, dairy farmers are producing more milk with fewer resources per gallon across the industry.
Producers across the country balanced winter weather disruptions, shifting export demand, and tightening margins as year-end decisions come into focus.
Reviewing risk management now can help dairy and livestock producers enter 2026 with clearer margins and fewer surprises.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) are praising the passage of a bill to delist gray wolves as an endangered species by the U.S. House last week.
Tight feeder supplies and lower placements indicate continued support for the cattle market, with regional impacts heightened in Texas by reduced feeder imports.
