# Prices for Young Cattle Are Soaring, Signaling Expensive Beef

> Feeder cattle futures in Chicago climbed to their highest since March 2016 after a USDA survey showed the American herd shrank 1.3% from a year earlier. Harsh weather, high feed prices and drought have pushed cattlemen to send animals to slaughter earlier.

- Date: 2021-07-26 · published 2021-07-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/46202-prices-for-young-cattle-are-soaring-signaling-expensive-beef
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A smaller herd and tighter feeder supply support higher cattle prices and beef prices for consumers, while raising costs for packers. Feed buyers should expect firm demand for feed and continued strength in cattle values.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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% |
| 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 | 2021-09-14 | [U.S. beef cattle: Numbers down, prices up](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45199-u-s-beef-cattle-numbers-down-prices-up.md) | -0.2% | +0.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-02-02 | [2023 Could Bring Record Cattle Prices, CattleFax Experts Say](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10217-2023-could-bring-record-cattle-prices-cattlefax-experts-say.md) | +1.7% | +4.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-06-15 | [Cattle prices to rise as production, exports fall: ABARES - Beef Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52571-cattle-prices-to-rise-as-production-exports-fall-abares-beef-central.md) | -4.3% | -5.9% |
| CORN | 2024-04-09 | [Stock/Usage Estimates are a Leading Indicator for Corn Prices \| StoneX](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30756-stock-usage-estimates-are-a-leading-indicator-for-corn-prices-stonex.md) | -0.4% | +2.2% |
| CORN | 2023-12-28 | [Real feeder cattle prices lag \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32847-real-feeder-cattle-prices-lag-ag-proud.md) | -2.1% | -3.4% |
| CORN | 2021-06-29 | [Ag economist says Cattle on Feed report has some good news for cattle prices - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46711-ag-economist-says-cattle-on-feed-report-has-some-good-news-for-cattle-prices.md) | +5.0% | -9.0% |

## Sources

- bloomberglinea.com: https://www.bloomberglinea.com/2021/07/26/prices-for-young-cattle-are-soaring-signaling-expensive-beef/

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