Yesterday, NASS and Statistics Canada released the 1 July cattle inventory in the two countries. Combined, the inventory was 106.1 million head, which was down to 99 percent of 2023 (the USDA suspended the July inventory report in 2024 due to budget constraints) and down to 92.4 percent of 2020. The total number of cattle and calves in the U.S. was 94.2 million head, 99 percent of 2023 and a scant 92 percent of 2020. The Canadian cattle inventory was 11.905 head, 101 percent of last year and just 94.7 percent of 2020. This indicates a long-term tightening of the cattle supply, which is adding pressure to beef prices. 

In the U.S., all cows and heifers that have calved, at 38.1 million head, were down to 99 percent of 2023 and in Canad...