These days, one of the most frequently asked questions in the cattle sector is, “When will the beef cow herd rebuild?” The answer is largely based on forage conditions and calf prices. Given those two market factors, it may be well into 2026 or 2027 before we begin to see heifer retention rates and the beef cow population tick back up.
The dairy and beef industries are further overlapping each other in current market conditions with high-value calves, softened feed costs, and scarce heifer supplies . . . both for beef and dairy heifers. Prices for weaned beef calves are at record highs, reaching around $300 per hundredweight (cwt.) in many Central Plains states in mid-July. Alfalfa and other hay prices have come back down to near $150 to $200 per ton, following the 2022 and 2023 record highs. And replacement heifers are hard to find as detailed in a new report by CoBank, “Beef calf prices and forage are stalling the herd rebuild.”
Abbi Prins
Aug. 15, 2024
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