The number of beef cows in the US is gradually declining

The drought has contributed greatly to the recent decline in the number of beef cows, due in part to the detrimental effect of dry weather conditions on pasture and grazing conditions.

At the start of 2023, nearly 93 percent of US beef cows were in states where most pasture HEALTH was rated "very poor" to "satisfactory" based on data from the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Cattle producers periodically provide additional feed, such as hay, for keeping animals when grazing conditions are poor.

Growers have experienced record high prices for hay other than alfalfa during the last two quarters of 2022 and every month through early 2023, according to NASS. High hay prices increase the cost of keeping cattle and encourage producers to downsize. With the exception of one month in 2022, the monthly slaughter of beef cows has been higher year-on-year since March 2021. Meanwhile, the number of beef cows has been gradually declining since the 1990–2004 cattle cycle. This trend is consistent with the general decline in the number of cattle observed since 1975.