 However, the overall cattle supply remains tight, leading to higher prices for producers and tighter margins for packers. This dynamic is causing some fluctuations in the beef market, but overall the sector remains resilient. Additionally, despite a slight decrease in beef production, U.S. beef exports remain robust. Over the past 12 months, the U.S. exported 17.5 billion pounds of animal protein, with beef making up a significant portion of that total.