# Why are cattle prices so volatile?

> A Farm Progress column explains that cattle prices are swinging several dollars a day due to drought, heat, rain and trade disputes. About 26% of the US beef cow herd was in drought areas by end-June, and beef cow slaughter rose more than 12% in the first half of 2018.

- Date: 2018-08-01 · published 2018-08-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/63472-why-are-cattle-prices-so-volatile
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Drought-driven herd liquidation and early calf movement add supply uncertainty, which keeps cattle futures and cash prices volatile for feed buyers.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: neutral
- LCATTLE: neutral

## Sources

- farmprogress.com: https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock/why-are-cattle-prices-so-volatile-

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