# U.S. beef cow herd falls to lowest level since 1962, USDA says

> USDA reported 28.9 million beef cows as of Jan. 1, down 3.6% from a year earlier, the smallest herd for that date in 61 years. Analysts said falling cattle supplies will keep meat prices high for consumers.

- Date: 2023-01-31 · published 2023-01-31T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/37722-u-s-beef-cow-herd-falls-to-lowest-level-since-1962-usda-says
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A shrinking breeding herd reduces future calf and feeder supply, which supports cattle prices and keeps demand for feed tight over the coming years.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2025-01-31 | [U.S. Beef Cattle Inventory Falls to the Lowest Level in 64 Years - AgWeb](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26447-u-s-beef-cattle-inventory-falls-to-the-lowest-level-in-64-years-agweb.md) | -0.9% | -3.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-02-17 | [America's cattle herd hits smallest level since 1950s, pushing beef prices to record highs - Los Angeles Times](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20727-america-s-cattle-herd-hits-smallest-level-since-1950s-pushing-beef-prices-to.md) | +0.7% | -4.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-02-03 | [The US Cowherd Now Has the Fewest Beef Cows Ever](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10214-the-us-cowherd-now-has-the-fewest-beef-cows-ever.md) | +1.3% | +4.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-08-06 | [Beef prices surge as herd shrinks to 1951 low](https://feedsoft.ai/events/4741-beef-prices-surge-as-herd-shrinks-to-1951-low.md) | -0.3% | -8.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-02-22 | [US beef cow herd declines
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42850-us-beef-cow-herd-declines-the-cattle-site.md) | -0.7% | -2.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-01-31 | [U.S. Beef Cattle Inventory Falls to the Lowest Level in 64 Years - AgWeb](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26447-u-s-beef-cattle-inventory-falls-to-the-lowest-level-in-64-years-agweb.md) | -5.9% | -2.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-02-17 | [America's cattle herd hits smallest level since 1950s, pushing beef prices to record highs - Los Angeles Times](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20727-america-s-cattle-herd-hits-smallest-level-since-1950s-pushing-beef-prices-to.md) | -0.5% | -2.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-02-03 | [The US Cowherd Now Has the Fewest Beef Cows Ever](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10214-the-us-cowherd-now-has-the-fewest-beef-cows-ever.md) | +0.5% | +2.2% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/commodities/us-beef-cow-herd-falls-to-lowest-level-since-1962-usda-says-idUSL1N34G2JD/

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