# Beef calf prices and forage are stalling the herd rebuild | CoBank | Cooperative. Connected. Committed.

> CoBank reports US beef cow numbers fell 2.5% year-on-year to 28.2 million head, the lowest since 1961. Pasture conditions are recovering in 2024 after drought in 2021 and 2022, but high calf prices are slowing herd rebuilding.

- Date: 2024-08-01 · published 2024-08-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/28724-beef-calf-prices-and-forage-are-stalling-the-herd-rebuild-cobank-cooperative
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Slow herd rebuilding keeps feeder calf supply tight, supporting high calf and feeder cattle prices, while improved forage may ease feed costs over time.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- cobank.com: https://www.cobank.com/knowledge-exchange/beef-calf-prices-and-forage-are-stalling-the-herd-rebuild

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