USDA's ERS conducts research and analyses on the livestock market, including the cattle and beef market, and provides a monthly industry outlook as well as current and historical data covering supply, use, prices, and trade of cattle and beef.

With rich agricultural land resources, the United States has developed a beef industry that is largely separate from its dairy sector. The U.S. beef industry is unique when compared with countries like India that produce beef from water buffalo, which are used as dual-purpose animals.

For current cattle and beef prices: National Daily Cattle & Beef Summary; National Weekly Cattle & Beef Summary; ERS retail beef prices-annual, quarterly, monthly

In this 2024 overview of the U.S. beef industry, the Pasture.io farming experts explore its vital role as the largest beef producer worldwide, with a current cattle inventory of approximately 89 million. While exports make up 15% of production, they bring in significant revenue, fueled by strong demand from Asia and North America.

Beef has the most unique and complex lifecycle of any food produced in the United States. The cattle and beef industry includes a variety of distinct segments, and it takes 2-3 years to bring beef from farm to fork.