The U.S. beef cattle herd began 2024 at a 63-year low, and not much progress has been made since. Cattle analysts say several challenges need to be addressed before the trend can be reversed.
Dr. Derrell Peel with the Oklahoma State University says the largest threat right now is drought. Liquidation is likely if those conditions expand in the coming months, and Peel says any chances of rebuilding could be pushed back even further.
Currently, the beef cow slaughter rate is higher than 10 percent, and that rate would need to fall around 22 percent to begin considering expansion. Peel says no matter what, rebuilding the herd will be slow to start, and it will take some time to get moving.
