Beef cattle inventories across the United States are at their lowest point in more than six decades, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In its biannual cattle report, USDA reported a total of 89.3 million head as of Jan. 1, 2023 — 3% lower than the total reported a year ago, and the lowest since 2015. Beef cattle — those bred specifically for slaughter and meat sales — declined 3.6%, to 28.9 million head, the lowest total recorded by the agency since 1962.
In “Cattle Market Notes Weekly,” a newsletter focused on the…
