# Smaller Cattle Herd, but Stronger Live Cattle Prices Forecast for 2023

> USDA's Outlook Forum projects U.S. fed cattle prices averaging 10.1% higher in 2023, at $159/cwt, as the cattle herd shrinks further. Hog and poultry prices are forecast lower as swine and broiler output rises, and total red meat and poultry production is set to dip slightly.

- Date: 2023-02-23 · published 2023-02-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/37272-smaller-cattle-herd-but-stronger-live-cattle-prices-forecast-for-2023
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md)

## Why it matters

A smaller cattle herd tightens fed cattle supply and supports live and feeder cattle prices, while rising pork and chicken output weighs on those meat prices and reduces demand for feed from those sectors.

## Read by commodity

- HOGS: bearish ▼
- CHICKEN: bearish ▼
- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2026-03-04 | [CattleFax forecasts continued strong demand, high prices - Texas Farm Bureau](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20117-cattlefax-forecasts-continued-strong-demand-high-prices-texas-farm-bureau.md) | -0.9% | +0.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2019-05-16 | [US herd slowdown good news for cattle prices \| Meat & Livestock Australia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59050-us-herd-slowdown-good-news-for-cattle-prices-meat-and-livestock-australia.md) | -1.1% | -3.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-04-24 | [Fischer: Prices For Cattle Remain High](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25264-fischer-prices-for-cattle-remain-high.md) | +1.8% | +3.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-10-12 | [WASDE: Fed cattle price forecast for balance of 2021 lowered; 2022 price raised \| Cattle Range News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/44713-wasde-fed-cattle-price-forecast-for-balance-of-2021-lowered-2022-price-raised.md) | +0.3% | +5.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-02-06 | [2025 Cattle Price Recap and What’s Ahead for 2026?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20728-2025-cattle-price-recap-and-what-s-ahead-for-2026.md) | +1.9% | +1.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-03-04 | [CattleFax forecasts continued strong demand, high prices - Texas Farm Bureau](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20117-cattlefax-forecasts-continued-strong-demand-high-prices-texas-farm-bureau.md) | -1.1% | +3.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-04-24 | [Fischer: Prices For Cattle Remain High](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25264-fischer-prices-for-cattle-remain-high.md) | +1.5% | +2.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-02-06 | [2025 Cattle Price Recap and What’s Ahead for 2026?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20728-2025-cattle-price-recap-and-what-s-ahead-for-2026.md) | +0.5% | -2.3% |

## Sources

- dtnpf.com: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/business-inputs/article/2023/02/23/smaller-cattle-herd-stronger-live

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