A strong cattle market depends on many factors, all of which play a role in ensuring producers’ long-term success.
While beef demand in the United States is the highest it has been in the last 40 years, and retail prices have risen 4.6 per cent annually over the last 25 years, producers still face a number of challenges.
Drier weather patterns, an aging producer base, labour shortages, interest rates, limited capital, and urban sprawl all weigh against record-high cattle prices, says Kevin Good, vice president of market analysis with CattleFax. He shared these insights with RealAgriculture’s Lyndsey Smith at CattleCon in San Antonio, Texas, where CattleFax presented its 2025 Market Outlook.
As for the nation’s cow herd, Good notes that while cow slaughter is slowing, heifer retention isn’t yet strong enough to drive herd expansion. According to the CattleFax 2025 Market Outlook, the U.S. cow herd is expected to remain stable or see only slight growth over the next two to three years.
Good and Smith also explore improvements in beef quality, the U.S.’s ability to meet its own beef supply, potential impacts of slowing demand, and the industry’s trade volatility—key factors that will shape the future of the cattle industry. Listen to the full interview below.
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