Cattle Prices: Is This the Peak? Brenna Grant’s 2026 Market Forecast

Canadian cattle markets continue making history but is this the top? Ryan Denis sits down with Brenna Grant of Canfax to break down everything producers need to know heading into fall, including: Canadian and U.S. herd expansion Beef demand and consumer trends Feed costs • China and Brazil’s impact on exports Drought outlook Heifer retention Fall run expectations Risk factors that could derail cattle prices Whether you’re a cow-calf producer, feedlot operator, grain farmer, or ag investor, this episode delivers one of the most comprehensive cattle market outlooks available. Guest: Brenna Grant – Canfax Hosted by Ryan Denis Website: https://www.whatthefuturespodcast.ca Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction(00:02:45) - Weather outlook & drought improvements(00:04:00) - Feed costs, barley and corn(00:05:20) - Where we are in the cattle cycle(00:07:00) - Why cattle stay on feed longer(00:08:00) - Why Canada imports U.S. feeder cattle(00:10:00) - Slaughter numbers & carcass weights(00:11:30) - China reopening & Brazil export quotas(00:15:00) - Could Brazilian beef flood North America?(00:17:00) - Why beef demand remains incredibly strong(00:18:30) - Protein trend & Ozempic(00:20:00) - Canadian beef consumption(00:21:15) - U.S. herd update(00:23:00) - Texas screw worm & border closures(00:25:00) - Heifer retention outlook(00:26:00) - Are cattle prices peaking?(00:27:30) - Yearling & calf price outlook(00:30:00) - Biggest risks to cattle prices(00:32:20) - Buying expensive bred heifers(00:35:20) - Final thoughts