Calf prices on the rise: elevated prices indicate a turning point in cattle farming

After the peak of R$ 2,926 in September, the price of the calf remains stable in the partial of October. However, the trend is for prices to remain elevated in the coming months, which signals a reversal of the livestock cycle. This assessment is from Thiago Bernardino de Carvalho, coordinator of livestock at the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea). According to the researcher, the sector is experiencing a transitional phase. “We had a peak in 2021 and, since then, we have gone through about 40 months of oscillation between highs and lows in prices. This movement indicates a reversal of the livestock cycle,” he analyzes. Furthermore, Carvalho explains that the calf price may fluctuate throughout the year, but should not show continuous declines. “At some times, the value may vary according to the price of the fattened cattle, but the trend now is for calf prices to remain high at least until 2027 — or at the turn of 2026 to 2027, when it should reach the ...