A Colorado ranching family has bought the Muleshoe Ranch in eastern Wyoming for $6.7 million, amidst record-high beef prices and a growing trend of aging producers selling their cattle herds to cash out.
The sale reflects multiple pressures facing today’s beef producers, including labor shortages, development pressure along the Front Range, and high beef prices that are at an all-time record high. Prices for uncooked beef steaks have increased by 198.43% since 1997, with a prime cut costing $59.69 in 2025 compared to $20 in 1997.
Industry watchers point out that while some ranchers are selling off their herds to cash out, others want to hold on for another year to enjoy the high market prices. The result is a historically low inventory of ranch properties across Wyoming and Montana, making it challenging for buyers to find suitable land and assets.
“This is a true changing of the guard of who own the cows in the US,” said Mark Eisele, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He credits quality improvements over the past two decades with driving up beef prices, as well as reduced supply brought on by drought.
However, not all ranchers are cashing out. Some are finding creative ways to adapt to market pressures while maintaining their connection to the land. By selling their cattle herds but keeping their ranches and leasing grazing rights to other operators, aging producers can reduce their workload and capitalize on both high cattle prices and strong demand for pasture.
As consumers wonder when they can afford to buy more beef, industry experts caution against assuming windfall profits will last forever. “Beef is not the new eggs as far as price spikes,” said Eisele. Instead, sustained high beef prices are attributed to robust demand that emerged during COVID-19 and international trade developments that have bolstered demand for American beef exports.
The sale of the Muleshoe Ranch is just one example of the changing landscape of ranching in Wyoming and Montana. As the industry continues to navigate record-high prices and changing market conditions, producers will need to adapt to stay ahead.
Source: https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/08/02/record-beef-prices-has-aging-ranchers-selling-off-herds-and-cashing-out