# What’s the Cattle Inventory Report mean for cattle markets in coming years? | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter

> A University of Tennessee economist says the January 1 cattle inventory, combined with record low hay stocks and high feed prices, points to strong cattle prices for at least three years. Heifers may keep entering slaughter this winter, so herd expansion would likely not begin until the second half of the year. Feeder prices should rise quickly once heifer retention starts.

- Date: 2023-02-08 · published 2023-02-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/37484-what-s-the-cattle-inventory-report-mean-for-cattle-markets-in-coming-years-ohio
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Delayed heifer retention keeps near-term supply tight and points to stronger feeder cattle prices in 2024 and 2025. High feed costs limit how fast herd rebuilding can occur.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- u.osu.edu: https://u.osu.edu/beef/2023/02/08/january-1-cattle-inventory-report-there-have-been-several-questions-concerning-what-it-means-for-cattle-markets-the-next-several-years/

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