The European Union's cattle herd has been contracting since 2017 and is expected to continue to do so in 2023 and 2024 due to high input costs and new regulations. On the other hand, Central European countries are expected to see a slight rebound in calf production, while Western EU Member States are forecasted to experience further contraction in their cattle herds. This decline in cattle production is leading to reduced beef production, increasing prices, and limited exports for the EU.