Bigger cattle and heavier weights will continue throughout 2016, but at a slower pace.
For 35 years, beef carcass weights grew an average of five pounds per year, according to Drovers CattleNetwork. But in 2015, cattle feeders added 20 more pounds of beef than the year before.
Why? High-priced feeder cattle that weren’t profitable at lighter weights.
Analysts, though, don’t believe that pace will sustain. A slight increase, but well below the five-pound average, is expected this year.
That’s because there are more cattle available and feeder calves have decreased in price—the effects of a growing cow herd over the last couple of years.
Experts also forecast one million more head of cattle available to fill feedyards in 2016.