Consumer

US Cattle Herd Stays at 75-Year Low, Keeping Beef Prices High

There were about 86.2 million cattle and calves in the US as of Jan. 1, the US Department of Agriculture said in a Friday report. — There were about 86.2 million cattle and calves in the US as of Jan. 1, the US Department of Agriculture said in a Friday report.
Photographer: Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg

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By Ilena Peng

January 30, 2026 at 8:45 PM UTC

The US cattle herd remained the smallest since 1951 at the start of the year, in the latest signal that consumer beef prices will remain near records.

There were about 86.2 million cattle and calves in the US as of Jan. 1, the US Department of Agriculture said in a Friday report. The tally is nearly unchanged from 2025, providing no relief to the ongoing cattle shortage.