# Drought could slow cattle herd recovery | Livestock | farmweeknow.com

> Dry conditions in recent months are adding to challenges for livestock farmers preparing for winter. More than half of the U.S. beef cow herd (52%) and 42% of sheep inventory are in drought-affected regions. Western states such as Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming have the worst pasture ratings, with over 70% of pastures rated poor to very poor, while 70% of Illinois was affected by abnormally dry to severe drought.

- Date: 2026-11-13 · published 2026-11-13T09:16:54.255Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/97589-drought-could-slow-cattle-herd-recovery-livestock-farmweeknow-com
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Alfalfa Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/ALFALFA.md), [Grass Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/GRASSHAY.md)

## Why it matters

Drought-stressed pastures reduce forage availability and push ranchers to buy more feed or cull herds, which slows herd rebuilding and can keep feeder cattle and beef supplies tight. Higher forage and hay demand supports alfalfa and grass hay prices.

## Read by commodity

- ALFALFA: bullish ▲
- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲
- GRASSHAY: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2022-11-13 | [All Drought, No Cattle: Low herd supply may drive record-high prices next year](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38615-all-drought-no-cattle-low-herd-supply-may-drive-record-high-prices-next-year.md) | +2.2% | +3.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-08-22 | [US cattle herd expansion slowdown \| Meat & Livestock Australia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63471-us-cattle-herd-expansion-slowdown-meat-and-livestock-australia.md) | +0.1% | +4.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2017-05-05 | [National Feeder  Cattle Weekly  Review - 5/5/17 \| Livestock Market Reports \| lancasterfarming.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11581-national-feeder-cattle-weekly-review-5-5-17-livestock-market-reports.md) | -4.0% | +7.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2024-11-11 | [Return of US drought delays cattle-herd rebuilding, hurting Tyson Foods](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27539-return-of-us-drought-delays-cattle-herd-rebuilding-hurting-tyson-foods.md) | +2.3% | +4.2% |
| FCATTLE | 2021-08-18 | [US drought could have implications for beef exports
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45518-us-drought-could-have-implications-for-beef-exports-the-cattle-site.md) | +1.3% | -1.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-11-13 | [All Drought, No Cattle: Low herd supply may drive record-high prices next year](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38615-all-drought-no-cattle-low-herd-supply-may-drive-record-high-prices-next-year.md) | +0.8% | +2.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2018-08-22 | [US cattle herd expansion slowdown \| Meat & Livestock Australia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63471-us-cattle-herd-expansion-slowdown-meat-and-livestock-australia.md) | -1.1% | +2.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-11-11 | [Return of US drought delays cattle-herd rebuilding, hurting Tyson Foods](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27539-return-of-us-drought-delays-cattle-herd-rebuilding-hurting-tyson-foods.md) | -1.1% | +1.4% |

## Sources

- farmweeknow.com: https://www.farmweeknow.com/livestock/drought-could-slow-cattle-herd-recovery/article_d62bb870-e5d2-42d5-9274-aee357c36f34.html

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