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Evaluating Cattle Cycles: Changes over Time and Implications

Summary

The U.S. beef industry is operating in a period many stakeholders would characterize as volatile on a multitude of fronts. One of the more heavily discussed issues currently among cattlemen is if and when the U.S. beef cow herd will expand. These discussions quickly lead many producers to think about "cattle cycles" and evaluate the current situation relative to past history. This fact sheet summarizes how cattle cycles have changed over time and highlights implications for current cow herd expansion discussions.