Live Cattle Prices – Historical Graph
Real-time chart of historical daily live cattle prices. The prices are down in U.S. dollars per Lbs.
- The average price in the past 3 days is
- The average price in the past 7 days is
- The average price in the past 30 days is
- The average price in the past 365 days is
Popular questions about live cattle prices:
Live Cattle Prices Explained
As you can see live cattle prices are fluctuating. But why is that? And is there a way to predict the price of live cattle?
Why are live cattle prices fluctuating?
Live cattle prices mainly depend on the supply and demand in the market however some underlying factors cause its market value to increase and decrease. Here are some:
1. Supply and Demand
The number one price driver of all goods and services. As the common market scenario, when cattle supply is low and demand is high, its price will spike. On the contrary, if cattle supply is plenty and demand is low, its price will go down.
2. Alternative Products
One good alternative to livestock is poultry.
If consumers see a continuous beef price hike in the market, they will resort to choosing poultry products as a cheaper option. This shift will likely grab a hold of livestock prices depending on some circumstances.
3. Feed Prices
Corn and soybean are the primary feeds of cattle. Thus, they also have a say in their market price. An increase or decrease in these feeds’ prices will highly influence live cattle value in the market.
4. Weather Conditions
Spring and summer are the breeding and grazing seasons for cattle however hurricanes and typhoons don’t pay attention to any calendar.
In the US, peak hurricanes usually occur from summer to autumn which greatly impacts farmers and herders.
This can cause production disruption, low supply, and increased market price.
5. Processing Capacity
Processing plants don’t always function at their peak as they require labor and maintenance.
This means that if processing plants have a limited capacity to process slaughtered cattle, this will cause a low beef supply in the market which will eventually lead to higher demand and value fluctuation.
Which variables impact the price of live cattle?
- Supply and Demand
- Weather
- Feed Prices
- Consumer Demand
- Processing Capacity
- Trade Policies
- Technological Advancements
Where do live cattle come from?
Cattle are descendants of aurochs. Aurochs are large wild animals originally from India and China.
The Italian explorer Christopher Colombus brought cattle offspring from Asia to the West in 1493 and this culminated in cattle herding and expansion around the West.
Today, American herders raise cattle in cattle ranches, farms, and feedlots. The top live cattle producers in the world are India, Brazil, China, the United States, and Argentina.
When is the live cattle season?
Live cattle are characteristically raised and sold throughout the year however certain times of the year prove their high supply, demand, and price.
In the US, live cattle, breeding, production, meat supply, and demand are high due to its grilling season and outdoor activities.
Popular live cattle breeds in the US are Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Limousin, and Brahman.
In India, live cattle trading and meat supply are at their peak in November due to favorable weather and cultural traditions.
Overall, though there is constant cattle production in the market, its price still relies heaving on demand and supply.