Beef Cattle Markets and COVID-19

Abstract

Cattle producers and markets faced massive disruptions due to COVID-19 in both supply and demand for cattle and beef. Restaurant and food service shutdowns affected beef demand. Closures and slowdowns of beef processors caused a logjam of live cattle in the supply chain. The resulting effects on cattle producers at all levels were lower prices and abnormal cattle flows, but the magnitudes of those effects were not homogenous across size and type of cattle. In this article, we detail how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected cattle markets and cattle producers across the different sectors. We also discuss policy responses and considerations.