Farmer Mac says cow-calf producers capture nearly 60% of US retail beef dollars in 2026
AGM•Tight cattle supply supported higher feeder prices
Feeder cattle prices rose from about $100 per hundredweight in 2020 to record highs by 2025, then stabilized in a range in 2026.
Tight supply drove the rally, with the U.S. cattle herd down 1% in 2026 and Mexico feeder imports constrained by New World screwworm restrictions.
Beef imports rose, but domestic supplies stayed limited
Beef imports jumped 16% in 2025, though reduced domestic cattle availability kept overall beef supplies limited.
Cow-calf producers capture a larger share of beef dollars
Farmer Mac says cow-calf producers captured nearly 60% of retail beef dollars by mid-2026, flagging a sharp shift in beef supply-chain economics.
Retail value per animal increased to about $5,450 in the first half of 2026 from about $3,950 in 2021, supported by resilient demand.
