By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed its investigation into potential antitrust violations in the U.S. cattle and beef markets.

The investigation stems from a November 2025 executive order issued by President Donald Trump directing federal agencies to examine potential collusion, price fixing and other anti-competitive practices in the beef industry.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a news conference that the DOJ has reviewed more than three million documents and interviewed industry participants.

“Multiple plant closures across the country, the current market structure and high concentration in the industry indicate anti-competitive activity,” Blanche said.

Four major companies—Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill and National Beef—control about 85% of the U.S. beef processing market. Two of these companies are either foreign-owned or have significant foreign ownership and control, the White House said.

The investigation is part of a broader effort by federal agencies to evaluate competition across the food supply chain. Officials noted the goal is to determine whether market practices have unfairly limited competition or influenced prices paid to producers and consumers.

Concerns about consolidation in the beef industry have been a longstanding issue for cattle producers.

“Consolidation in the beef industry is a serious concern for Texas beef producers,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said. “Anticompetitive practices must be addressed wherever they are encountered. There is a need for government oversight to ensure fair market conditions for farmers and consumers. Consolidation in the beef industry threatens both producer and consumer interests.”

Industry structure has shifted significantly over the past several decades.

According to federal data cited during the announcement, concentration among the largest packers has increased steadily since the 1970s, leaving producers with fewer buyers in many regions.

At the same time, the U.S. cattle herd has declined to historically low levels, which adds further complexity to market conditions.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said rebuilding the cattle herd and strengthening the industry will require both market stability and increased competition.

“In the past decade alone, we’ve lost over 17% of our cattle ranchers,” she said. “More than 100,000 ranches across this country are no more.”

Drought, wildfire, overregulation and volatile markets have also contributed to the decreased herd size, she said. But consolidation across the meatpacking sector has also narrowed marketing options for ranchers.

“It weakens their negotiating power, and it risks reliance on a single buyer,” she said. “Today, the concentration of larger plants opens the door to tighter coordination by the ‘Big Four’ with producers. As ranchers face fewer options for selling their animals, the ‘Big Four’ grow stronger and stronger.”

She noted disruptions in highly concentrated markets can have widespread impacts.

“When just four firms control a market, suppliers and food prices are rocked heavily when disruptions occur,” Rollins said. “The last few years have proven that the protein sector, especially, and therefore our food security, is especially at risk when global pandemics, animal disease outbreaks and facility issues like fires, labor disputes, foodborne illnesses and cybersecurity attacks occur.”

Rollins said increasing the number and geographic distribution of processors could help improve competition and strengthen the supply chain.

“The health and diversification of all of these communities, including the packing community, is vital to our long-term national security agenda,” she said. “More U.S.-owned packers in more American regions of the country provides more opportunities for our ranchers and stronger food security for our country.”

Federal officials emphasized the investigation remains ongoing and are encouraging industry participants to report potential antitrust violations, including price fixing or market manipulation.