The United States is the leading producer of beef in the world and has been for many years. Following the United States in order are Brazil, China, Argentina and Australia.

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service publishes a semiannual report titled Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade, most recently released April 10. The report includes data on U.S. and global livestock and meat production, trade, consumption and stocks, with analysis of developments affecting world livestock, including cattle, beef and poultry. 

Global beef production in 2025 is forecast to be unchanged from 2024 at 61.6 million tons as declining production in the United States and European Union will be offset by increases in Australia and Brazil.

U.S. beef production has been on a long-term uptrend in spite of a decline in beef and dairy cow numbers since 1975. U.S. dairy cow numbers peaked in 1945 at 27.8 million head, and have generally declined since then. Dairy and beef cow numbers were essentially equal in 1953 at 23 million head each. 

U.S. beef cow numbers continued increasing until 1975, when they reached 45.7 million head. Since then numbers have generally declined with cyclical declines outpacing cyclical increases. Jan. 1, 2025, U.S. beef cow numbers were 27.86 million head; and with 9.35 million dairy cows, total cow numbers were 37.2 million head.

Beef cow numbers declined for six years from 2019-2024, mainly due to drought conditions in important U.S. cattle-producing regions. U.S. beef production reached an all-time record high of 28.36 billion pounds (lb.) in 2022, buoyed by drought-forced beef cow liquidation. 2023 and 2024 beef production declined to 27 billion lb. with fewer cattle available.

The long-term increase in beef production resulted from a long-term increase in fed-cattle live and carcass weights. Carcass weights have trended higher for more than 60 years, with steer weights increasing an average of 4 lb. per year. Steer carcass weights peaked in 2022 at 910 lb., declined slightly to 908 lb. in 2023, but increased sharply in 2024 to 931 lb.

Each month, the USDA predicts expected annual beef production in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. 
The USDA’s January estimate for 2024 beef production was 26.11 billion lb., down 3.3% from 2023. However, the USDA increased the estimate each month, due to increasing fed cattle slaughter weights and more heifers on feed than earlier expected. The final beef production estimate was 27 billion lb., the same as 2023, in spite of a decline in beef cow numbers.

Steer and heifer carcass weights averaged 25 lb. heavier than 2023, which was the equivalent of slaughtering a million more fed cattle. That offset the 926,300 head decline in U.S. beef cow numbers that occurred during 2023, which will be an important factor to consider when cyclical beef cow herd expansion occurs.

The January 2025 WASDE beef production estimate was 25.87 billion lb., but has increased to 26.36 billion lb. with the higher dressed weights that are occurring.

Average weekly steer dressed weights through May were 949 lb., compared to 920 in 2024. Higher weights have offset lower cattle supplies, which has kept beef production consistent.

Feedlots are keeping cattle on feed longer due to fewer feeder cattle available at record high prices. Beef packers are encouraging higher weights to help bolster lower beef production levels.

Strong seasonal early-summer beef demand pushed fed-cattle prices up to record high levels near $238 per hundredweight (cwt.) in June. With costs of gain around $1.10/cwt. and fewer feeder cattle available, the incentive to add weight to fed cattle will likely continue.

Looking ahead to 2026, USDA is projecting beef production to decline 4% to 25.28 billion lb., which would be supportive to cattle prices.

 USDA projects fed steers to average $221.50/cwt. in 2025 and $228.50/cwt. in 2026.