# U.S. cow herd stable | The Western Producer

> The U.S. beef cow herd is in a stable phase of the cattle cycle at about 31.9 million head, with a slight increase expected this year and peak numbers around 2020-21. Strong exports and a healthy economy are keeping demand firm despite heavy culling of cows last year and low dairy cow prices.

- Date: 2019-02-01 · published 2019-02-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/60543-u-s-cow-herd-stable-the-western-producer
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A stable-to-slightly-growing cow herd means cattle supply will stay ample near term, limiting upside for cattle prices while steady export demand supports values. Feed demand from the cattle sector remains firm.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: neutral
- LCATTLE: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2021-06-18 | [Explaining the volatile stock and bond market moves this week following the Fed's update](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5932-explaining-the-volatile-stock-and-bond-market-moves-this-week-following-the-fed.md) | +2.3% | +1.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-01-28 | [Is the beef market headed for a crash?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21196-is-the-beef-market-headed-for-a-crash.md) | +2.0% | +4.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-08-30 | [Cattle break-even prices enter uncharted territory – AgriNews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18029-cattle-break-even-prices-enter-uncharted-territory-agrinews.md) | -2.7% | -0.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-05-23 | [Beef Demand – The Key to Cattle Prices \| Farm Bureau Intel Markets \| American Farm Bureau Federation](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24800-beef-demand-the-key-to-cattle-prices-farm-bureau-intel-markets-american-farm.md) | +0.1% | +4.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-03-17 | [Herd liquidation: Many factors beyond drought conditions impacting cattle markets – AgriNews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42220-herd-liquidation-many-factors-beyond-drought-conditions-impacting-cattle.md) | +0.3% | +0.6% |
| FCATTLE | 2016-11-07 | [Cattle Outlook: Unemployment Decline Good for Meat Demand
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73969-cattle-outlook-unemployment-decline-good-for-meat-demand-the-cattle-site.md) | +0.3% | +1.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2016-06-16 | [Weak economy and strong dollar both matter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9291-weak-economy-and-strong-dollar-both-matter.md) | -0.1% | +1.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-05-23 | [Beef Demand – The Key to Cattle Prices \| Farm Bureau Intel Markets \| American Farm Bureau Federation](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24800-beef-demand-the-key-to-cattle-prices-farm-bureau-intel-markets-american-farm.md) | +1.2% | +2.5% |

## Sources

- producer.com: https://www.producer.com/news/u-s-cow-herd-stable/

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