# Cattle outlook 2026: Is this the year when the herd size finally expands?  | FCC

> FCC's 2026 cattle outlook examines the cattle cycle, noting record 2025 prices and corrections. It projects whether herd expansion will begin in 2026 and gives price forecasts.

- Date: 2025-12-03 · published 2025-12-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region Canada · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/21648-cattle-outlook-2026-is-this-the-year-when-the-herd-size-finally-expands-fcc
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Expectations of herd rebuilding would reduce feeder supplies later, supporting feeder cattle prices and long-term feed demand, though the timing is uncertain.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2021-08-31 | [Is the U.S. Cattle Oversupply Finally Cleared? - The Food Institute](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5299-is-the-u-s-cattle-oversupply-finally-cleared-the-food-institute.md) | -4.7% | -5.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-05-29 | [Why the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low — and what it means for beef prices : NPR](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19389-why-the-u-s-cattle-herd-is-at-a-75-year-low-and-what-it-means-for-beef-prices.md) | +0.1% | +4.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-06-01 | [Cattle Supply and Demand Issues for the 2022 Marketing Year](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41547-cattle-supply-and-demand-issues-for-the-2022-marketing-year.md) | +4.4% | +3.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-05-25 | [Cattle Supply and Demand Issues for the 2022 Marketing Year - Northern Ag Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5073-cattle-supply-and-demand-issues-for-the-2022-marketing-year-northern-ag-network.md) | +9.9% | +13.2% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-10-12 | [Feeder cattle hit three-month high on lower corn outlook - CME
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/589-feeder-cattle-hit-three-month-high-on-lower-corn-outlook-cme-the-cattle-site.md) | +0.0% | — |
| LCATTLE | 2021-08-31 | [Is the U.S. Cattle Oversupply Finally Cleared? - The Food Institute](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5299-is-the-u-s-cattle-oversupply-finally-cleared-the-food-institute.md) | +1.8% | +0.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-05-29 | [Why the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low — and what it means for beef prices : NPR](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19389-why-the-u-s-cattle-herd-is-at-a-75-year-low-and-what-it-means-for-beef-prices.md) | -0.8% | +1.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-06-01 | [Cattle Supply and Demand Issues for the 2022 Marketing Year](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41547-cattle-supply-and-demand-issues-for-the-2022-marketing-year.md) | +0.9% | +4.2% |

## Sources

- fcc-fac.ca: https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/knowledge/economics/cattle-outlook-2026

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