Let's talk beef prices, why is beef so expensive?
While everything continues to rise in prices, the cost of beef has been a hot topic.
The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest level in over 70 years. Why? This didn't just happen overnight, for years ranchers have been forced to sell off their herd due to many reasons - drought, rising input costs (like feed, fuel, machinery, etc.), and unrealistic regulations.
Years of shrinking profit margins pushed many ranchers out of business entirely.
This can't be fixed overnight.
Now the talk is about rebuilding the US herd. This isn't going to happen quickly; a cow's gestation is 9 months and once the calf is born it takes approximately 1.5 to 2 years before it is ready to be harvested. Replacement females (animals that will be kept for breeding purposes) take a few years before they are ready to have their own calf.
What does all this mean to you the consumer?
The supply chain for beef is measured in years, not weeks. There are fewer cattle available. With the demand of cattle for both breeding and beef being high, this affects the price of beef that we consume.
.
Experts across the industry agree that we're likely to see tight supply, and elevated prices, for the foreseeable future. That means the rising costs we're feeling today aren't going away in a few months.
We recently increased our beef prices. I know what this increase of prices means for family budgets. To make things less expensive for you, we could cut corners and do things cheaper, but I am not willing to do that. Every animal that is born and raised on our ranch represents everything we believe in.
Rising prices are never fun to talk about, but we wanted to have a conversation with you as to why this is happening. You choose D&D Beef because you not only care about the quality of beef you feed your family but also to know where it comes from.
Thank you for continuing to support our family ranch and choosing our beef to feed your family.
-Michaela
0 comments