Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
A shift in supply dynamics and shifting trade flows are weighing heavily on North American livestock markets, reversing months of tight inventory trends and record-high retail prices.
In this Beef Market Update, Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture sits down with Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock Exchange to unpack the factors driving the recent downturn in cash cattle and beef prices. Wasko notes that while high retail beef prices have met consumer resistance, expanding supplies are now reshaping market expectations.
"For so many weeks and months, we talked about tighter supplies and good demand, and those things are slowly changing," says Wasko. "Now the supply story is changing, simply put, just more supply. So the markets are figuring it out, and leverage is changing as plants close."
Recent U.S. developments include a 11% decline in July placements according to the August 1 Cattle on Feed report, though total on-feed numbers remain up 2%. Concurrently, the phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona border crossing for Mexican feeder cattle imports marks the start of renewed trade flows, with additional border points expected to open later this fall.
In Canada, Statistics Canada's July 1 livestock inventory report revealed a modest uptick in herd expansion, with national cattle and calf numbers rising 3% to 12.1 million head. The Canadian beef cow herd rose 2% to 3.5 million head, driven largely by Alberta and Saskatchewan. Notably, beef replacement heifers increased 6% nationally, including a 9% jump in Alberta, signaling a slow, deliberate effort toward herd rebuilding. However, Wasko cautions that potential drought risks could still disrupt this fragile growth trajectory as producers navigate lower market prices relative to spring highs.
#farming #agriculture #cattle #beef
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A shift in supply dynamics and shifting trade flows are weighing heavily on North American livestock markets, reversing months of tight inventory trends and record-high retail prices.
In this Beef Market Update, Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture sits down with Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock Exchange to unpack the factors driving the recent downturn in cash cattle and beef prices. Wasko notes that while high retail beef prices have met consumer resistance, expanding supplies are now reshaping market expectations.
"For so many weeks and months, we talked about tighter supplies and good demand, and those things are slowly changing," says Wasko. "Now the supply story is changing, simply put, just more supply. So the markets are figuring it out, and leverage is changing as plants close."
Recent U.S. developments include a 11% decline in July placements according to the August 1 Cattle on Feed report, though total on-feed numbers remain up 2%. Concurrently, the phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona border crossing for Mexican feeder cattle imports marks the start of renewed trade flows, with additional border points expected to open later this fall.
In Canada, Statistics Canada's July 1 livestock inventory report revealed a modest uptick in herd expansion, with national cattle and calf numbers rising 3% to 12.1 million head. The Canadian beef cow herd rose 2% to 3.5 million head, driven largely by Alberta and Saskatchewan. Notably, beef replacement heifers increased 6% nationally, including a 9% jump in Alberta, signaling a slow, deliberate effort toward herd rebuilding. However, Wasko cautions that potential drought risks could still disrupt this fragile growth trajectory as producers navigate lower market prices relative to spring highs.
#farming #agriculture #cattle #beef
Website: realagriculture.com
Find us on our other social media platforms:
X/Twitter: twitter.com/realagriculture
Instagram: instagram.com/realagriculture
Facebook: facebook.com/realagmedia
