# Beef markets reach new highs on tight supplies, strong demand

> Cattle prices reached all-time highs as drought and record-low inventories tightened supply. April live cattle hit $253.60 on April 14 and June reached $252. The Mexican border closure over New World Screwworm has cut feeder imports of 1.1 to 1.2 million head a year.

- Date: 2026-05-01 · published 2026-05-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19863-beef-markets-reach-new-highs-on-tight-supplies-strong-demand
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Reduced feeder supply from Mexico and a small domestic herd keep fed and feeder cattle prices elevated into peak grilling demand.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2026-05-04 | 1 | +2.1% | 3.2 | Record-high cattle prices from drought, low inventories and lost Mexican feeder imports (1.1-1.2M head/yr) describe the structural supply squeeze behind the rally. |

## Sources

- wisfarmer.com: https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2026/04/28/tight-cattle-supplies-mean-higher-beef-prices-at-the-grocery-store/89827780007/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.