# Optimism, higher cattle prices to start 2022

> Oklahoma State and Texas A&M economists expect higher cattle and beef prices in 2022 after tight supplies pushed prices up at the end of 2021. Beef cow slaughter rose more than 8% in 2021, shrinking the national cow herd, and drought remains a concern in the western US.

- Date: 2022-01-24 · published 2022-01-24T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/43088-optimism-higher-cattle-prices-to-start-2022
- 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

A smaller cow herd and tight fed supplies support higher cattle prices into 2022, while western drought could raise feed costs and limit herd rebuilding.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2025-02-28 | [Cattle prices expected to remain high in 2025 and 2026 - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26182-cattle-prices-expected-to-remain-high-in-2025-and-2026-high-plains-journal.md) | -1.3% | +5.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-09-27 | [A lot at steak: US beef and cattle prices soar to record highs \| Beef \| The Guardian](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23000-a-lot-at-steak-us-beef-and-cattle-prices-soar-to-record-highs-beef-the-guardian.md) | -1.2% | +0.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2019-12-06 | [Higher calf prices may be on the horizon for 2020 \| TheFencePost.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55696-higher-calf-prices-may-be-on-the-horizon-for-2020-thefencepost-com.md) | +0.5% | +5.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-12-16 | [Higher revenues and falling feed prices boost producer optimism \| The National Provisioner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21623-higher-revenues-and-falling-feed-prices-boost-producer-optimism-the-national.md) | -0.1% | +1.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-04-30 | [Higher Cattle Prices Good, But Wide Profit Margins Are Better - Morning Ag Clips](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6725-higher-cattle-prices-good-but-wide-profit-margins-are-better-morning-ag-clips.md) | -4.2% | -3.2% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-02-28 | [Cattle prices expected to remain high in 2025 and 2026 - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26182-cattle-prices-expected-to-remain-high-in-2025-and-2026-high-plains-journal.md) | -0.9% | +4.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-09-27 | [A lot at steak: US beef and cattle prices soar to record highs \| Beef \| The Guardian](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23000-a-lot-at-steak-us-beef-and-cattle-prices-soar-to-record-highs-beef-the-guardian.md) | +0.0% | -0.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2019-12-06 | [Higher calf prices may be on the horizon for 2020 \| TheFencePost.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55696-higher-calf-prices-may-be-on-the-horizon-for-2020-thefencepost-com.md) | +1.4% | +4.9% |

## Sources

- farmprogress.com: https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock/optimism-higher-cattle-prices-to-start-2022

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