# Cattle on Feed Remains Elevated, Despite Low Cattle Inventory

> The American Farm Bureau Federation notes that US cattle inventory fell to its lowest level in 73 years while cattle on feed remains strong. Retail beef prices hit record highs in six of the last seven months, and drought is emerging as a new source of uncertainty for cattle markets.

- Date: 2024-11-01 · published 2024-11-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/27996-cattle-on-feed-remains-elevated-despite-low-cattle-inventory
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Low herd numbers and record retail beef prices support cattle values over the longer term, while drought risk could affect placements and feed costs over the next six months.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bullish ▲
- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2025-07-25 | [USDA Cattle on Feed Bullish, Inventory Report Confirms Record Low Herd - Drovers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23702-usda-cattle-on-feed-bullish-inventory-report-confirms-record-low-herd-drovers.md) | +0.8% | +3.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-01-31 | [U.S. cattle inventory falls 3%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/37278-u-s-cattle-inventory-falls-3.md) | +1.6% | +4.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-01-01 | [Jan. 1 Cattle Inventory Down 2%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31617-jan-1-cattle-inventory-down-2.md) | -0.4% | +2.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-01-31 | [Jan. 1 Cattle Inventory Down 2%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/43084-jan-1-cattle-inventory-down-2.md) | +1.0% | +2.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-02-05 | [Cattle Inventory Report \| Industry News \| feedlotmagazine.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25984-cattle-inventory-report-industry-news-feedlotmagazine-com.md) | -1.1% | -4.6% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-05-25 | [Record Number of Cattle on Feed and Record Low Inventory Outside of Feedlots](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41541-record-number-of-cattle-on-feed-and-record-low-inventory-outside-of-feedlots.md) | +9.9% | +13.2% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-07-25 | [USDA Cattle on Feed Bullish, Inventory Report Confirms Record Low Herd - Drovers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23702-usda-cattle-on-feed-bullish-inventory-report-confirms-record-low-herd-drovers.md) | +0.8% | +8.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-01-31 | [U.S. cattle inventory falls 3%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/37278-u-s-cattle-inventory-falls-3.md) | +2.1% | +3.2% |

## Sources

- fb.org: https://www.fb.org/intel/markets/cattle-on-feed-elevated-despite-low-cattle-inventory

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