# Strong cattle prices signaling need for herd expansion – AgriNews

> Oklahoma State economist Derrell Peel said US cattle numbers are at multi-decade lows, with the 2024 calf crop expected near 33 million head, the lowest since 1941. He noted fed cattle passed $2 per pound for the first time and all cattle classes set record prices in January. Producers are being incentivized toward herd rebuilding.

- Date: 2025-02-19 · published 2025-02-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/26188-strong-cattle-prices-signaling-need-for-herd-expansion-agrinews
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Record prices and a shrinking calf crop point to sustained tight cattle supplies, supporting elevated fed and feeder cattle prices until herd rebuilding takes hold.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- agrinews-pubs.com: https://www.agrinews-pubs.com/livestock/2025/02/19/strong-cattle-prices-signaling-need-for-herd-expansion/

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