There likely will not be much change in the cattle market next year

cattle 1280x720 (1).jpg

Washington State Department of Agriculture / Flickr cc

Livestock economists are not expecting much change in next year’s cattle market.

Experts are Rabobank say producers are holding back replacement heifers as they continue fighting drought and high feed prices. Right now, researchers are focused on studying total female cattle slaughter numbers, and they estimate 2022 will end with 17.6 million head of cows and heifers slaughtered. They warn those numbers could have long-lasting implications, including sacrificing gains in next year’s cow herd.

Without better precipitation over the winter and into next spring, researchers say the pattern will likely continue into 2024’s cow herd.

Related Stories
Bryan Combs with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service breaks down new farmland data from the TOTAL survey, highlights key findings, and potential impacts for the ag sector. ASFMRA’s David Klein also shares how those trends are reflected in the current farmland market, especially in the Midwest.
Producer input costs are rising faster than expected — and this latest PPI report does not reflect the last two weeks of geopolitical tension.
Acreage shifts could influence spring marketing decisions.
Corn and sorghum exports continue outperforming soybeans.
Expanding supplies are weighing on global coffee and cocoa prices.
NMPF’s Alan Bjerga discusses pending trade agreements with Indonesia and Ecuador and how they will benefit U.S. dairy producers and improve overall global competitiveness of U.S. ag products.