Record high beef prices won't be fixed with more cattle, ranchers say. Here's why

"The national herd size isn't the only factor that determines what beef costs at the grocery store. Still, the dwindling number of cattle is a key reason the average price of all uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $6.86 per pound in March, 3 cents off the record high set in February."

"Thanks to changes in cattle genetics and feeding techniques, ranchers now produce far more meat from each animal, so despite the much smaller herd, the country's beef production hit a record 28.4 billion pounds in 2022."

The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest in over 75 years, causing high beef prices. Ranchers like Stephanie Hatzenbuhler face challenges in increasing herd sizes. The average price of uncooked ground beef reached $6.86 per pound in March, a 48% increase from March 2021. Despite a smaller herd, advancements in cattle genetics and feeding have led to record beef production. The national herd size has decreased from 132 million in 1975 to 86 million today, impacting supply and demand dynamics in the beef market.

Read at Fast Company