Why the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low — and what it means for beef prices ^17.1%

NPR - By Joe Hernandez - 5/29/2026, 9:00 AM

Negativity Bias 12% - Post Hoc (False Cause) 10.7% - Appeal to Authority 10.1%

Beef has long been an iconic and beloved staple of the American diet, from barbecue to hamburgers and steaks. Even as retail prices have soared recently, U.S. demand for beef has remained strong. Yet the U.S. cattle herd, including both beef and dairy cattle, is the smallest it has been in three-quarters of a century. Domestic producers... more