# U.S. beef cattle: Numbers down, prices up

> Western Illinois University economist Jason Franken says the US beef herd is in its second straight year of decline, with July inventory down 1.3% year over year. Beef cows are down 2% and replacement heifers are down 2%, partly due to drought.

- Date: 2021-09-14 · published 2021-09-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/45199-u-s-beef-cattle-numbers-down-prices-up
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A shrinking cow herd tightens feeder cattle supply and supports higher cattle prices ahead. Feed buyers should expect firmer cattle demand for feed over the coming cycle.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-01 | [What’s Up with Cattle Prices in Recent Weeks?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18944-what-s-up-with-cattle-prices-in-recent-weeks.md) | -4.9% | -11.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-08-09 | [Shrinking U.S. cattle herd signals more pain from high beef prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39969-shrinking-u-s-cattle-herd-signals-more-pain-from-high-beef-prices.md) | +1.8% | +3.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-02-08 | [January 1 Beef Cow Numbers Decline 3.6% \| Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/37276-january-1-beef-cow-numbers-decline-3-6-ohio-beef-cattle-letter.md) | +0.9% | +3.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-08-23 | [Beef herd contraction supports cattle prices \| Capital Press](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39971-beef-herd-contraction-supports-cattle-prices-capital-press.md) | -0.6% | +0.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [Are you ready for a run-up in cattle prices?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32626-are-you-ready-for-a-run-up-in-cattle-prices.md) | -1.8% | -0.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-09-15 | [Grain prices down—hay prices up](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63165-grain-prices-down-hay-prices-up.md) | -0.3% | -1.7% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-07-01 | [What’s Up with Cattle Prices in Recent Weeks?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18944-what-s-up-with-cattle-prices-in-recent-weeks.md) | -0.7% | -5.6% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-08-09 | [Shrinking U.S. cattle herd signals more pain from high beef prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39969-shrinking-u-s-cattle-herd-signals-more-pain-from-high-beef-prices.md) | -0.7% | +1.6% |

## Sources

- farmprogress.com: https://www.farmprogress.com/management/u-s-beef-cattle-numbers-down-prices-up

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