Since the expanded Argentine beef quotas were announced around mid-October 2025, U.S. live cattle futures prices dropped significantly, creating volatility and near-term bearishness, with some sources noting a 20% dip in cash prices. However, producers framed this as artificial, given the tight national herd and ongoing high costs, with the import increase seen as too small to affect retail prices much. While cattle futures fell, retail beef prices remained high, as the overall herd contraction, not imports, drives the market.
Impact on Cattle Prices (Futures & Cash):
