Texas Beef Herd Signals Higher Prices Ahead For Producers And Consumers

By Adam Russell

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture cattle inventory report delivered another clear signal that the U.S. beef herd has yet to turn the corner, and Texas remains central to the story, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

Nationally, the number of beef cows dropped just over 1%, a sharper decline than many market analysts expected, said David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist in the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics.

In Texas, the nation’s largest beef‑producing state, cow numbers dipped by about 30,000 head, but producers held back 50,000 more heifers — an 8% increase in replacements that could signal the early stages of a slow rebuild, Anderson said.

He said strong calf prices and historically tight cattle supplies continue to shape producer decisions about growing their herds.

“That suggests we’re bottoming out — holding a few more replacements for future growth,” Anderson said. “But there’s nothing here that suggests rapid growth.”