Beef Cow Slaughter & Culling Rate

Beef cow slaughter is one of many metrics used to gauge expansion efforts. When beef cow slaughter starts decreasing, we assume efforts are being made to stabilize the herd by not culling as hard. So far in 2026, beef cow slaughter is down 17%, or 179,300 head, compared to the same period in 2025.

Using beef cow slaughter numbers, we can calculate what is referred to as the beef cow culling rate by dividing annual beef cow slaughter by beef cow inventory. In 2026, beef cow slaughter is averaging 168,000 head per month which would total to roughly 2 million head by the end of the year. If this rate of slaughter continues, the beef cow culling rate will reach 7.2% for 2026 (2 million/27.6 million). Historically, this percentage is below 10% during an expansion period.

What It Means for Expansion & Prices

The difference in this cycle is that we have not started retaining enough heifers to 1) replace cull cows and 2) increase inventory as quickly as seen back in 2015-2017. Reduced beef cow slaughter is only one of two parts of rebuilding. The reduction in beef cow slaughter can be attributed to heavy herd liquidation over the last few years, producers wanting one more high-priced calf from an older cow, and the high cost of replacing her with a younger female.

The limited supply of cull cows coupled with strong demand is driving high prices. In June, prices for lean cows (1,100 pounds, average dressing) in Florida were $165/cwt, 17% higher ($24/cwt) than June 2025. Typically, cull cow prices can be expected to peak in late summer before the seasonal decline in the fall months when many producers are culling after summer preg-checks. However, a challenge specifically affecting Florida producers is pro-longed drought conditions that may be forcing the sale of more cows that would typically not be sold in the summer. More cows entering the market both now and in the fall will place some pressure on prices, but demand for cull cows will continue to keep prices elevated.

Questions, contact Hannah at h.baker@ufl.edu 

See this update and other helpful resources online at https://rcrec-ona.ifas.ufl.edu/about/directory/staff/hannah-baker/

Written June 2026

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