COLUMN: Look into risk management strategies for cattle | Ag / Energy
The cattle complex doesn’t show significant changes in 2026. The USDA cattle inventory report published on Jan. 30 provides a general perspective of how the cattle inventory in 2025 was and how 2026 is beginning.
The calf crop in 2025 continued to follow a downward trend, decreasing by 1.6% compared to 2024. While beef replacement heifers slightly increased by 0.9%, the estimated number of beef cows has contracted by 1% compared to a year ago. Despite the increase in beef heifer replacements, there are not solid signs of herd expansion yet.
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