Market conditions have cow-calf producers incentivized to sell calves rather than keep them for future breeding. With inventory at its lowest level in more than 60 years, speculation looms over the timeline to rebuild the herd.
Abbi Prins with CoBank joined RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander to discuss how we got to this point with falling beef cow numbers, if she sees any signs that conditions are getting more favorable, and when she expects to see inventories begin to rise again.
For more information, click HERE.
Related Stories
Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
Cattle groups say additional imports would offer little relief for consumers but could erode rancher confidence as the industry begins to rebuild herds.
The USDA’s latest Hogs and Pigs Report caught some analysts off guard. Inventories came in lower than expected, signaling tighter supplies ahead, even as producers return to profitability this year.
The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
Expect firm calf and fed-cattle prices — pair selective heifer retention with prudent hedging and liquidity to bridge rebuilding costs.
The new antitrust agreement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to enforce antitrust laws and monitor market activity across the ag sector.
