Beef prices near double, Colorado barbecues say

Colorado barbecue restaurants say beef costs are climbing fast enough to force changes in pricing, portions and purchasing. KDVR reported on June 3 that local owners were linking the increase to both the war in Iran and a broader cattle shortage. The station said the average price of beef rose to $6.73 a pound in February 2026 from $3.96 a pound in February 2016, a 22% increase from a year earlier. Restaurant owners told FOX31 the pressure is hitting brisket especially hard because of both wholesale cost and trimming loss. ### How much have beef prices risen? KDVR said beef reached $6.73 a pound in February 2026, up from $3.96 a pound in February 2016. The station said that amounted to prices that were nearly double decade-ago levels and 22% higher than a year earlier. Yazoo Barbeque owner Dan Hines told FOX31 that his suppliers are charging 28% more for brisket. (kdvr.com) Hines said a large brisket can lose 45% to 50% of its weight to waste, leaving only seven to nine pounds of sellable meat from a 15-pound cut. ### Which Colorado restaurants said they were feeling it? Stoney’s Bar and Grill, Yazoo Barbeque and Pit Fiend Barbecue all appeared in the June 3 KDVR report. (kdvr.com) Chef John Shirley of Stoney’s said the response was to watch portion control, manage costs and keep a varied menu. Pit Fiend Barbecue co-owner Juan Pablo Llano told FOX31 that brisket brings customers in, so the restaurant has to “find creative ways” to get more from other menu items. (kdvr.com) Pit Fiend co-owner Michael Granule said the company locked in a large volume of brisket at the start of the year, which he said had helped cushion the increase. ### Why are owners and economists pointing to Iran and cattle supplies? KDVR said economists tied part of the increase to higher gas prices linked to the Iran war’s effect on the Strait of Hormuz. The station said those energy costs ripple through cattle delivery and meat shipments. USDA data shows the supply side is also tight. (kdvr.com) The National Agricultural Statistics Service said there were 86.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2026, with beef cows down 1% from a year earlier to 27.6 million head. The agency also said all cattle on feed were 13.8 million head, down 3% from 2025, while the 2025 calf crop fell 2% to 32.9 million head. ### What are federal forecasters saying about the rest of 2026? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said on May 19 that its 2026 beef production forecast was lowered by 243 million pounds to 25.547 billion pounds because of a slower expected cattle slaughter pace. The agency said 2026 cattle prices were raised on recent price data and projected next year’s prices to reach new highs as supplies remain limited. (nass.usda.gov) ERS also said 2027 beef production is forecast to decline 0.9% year over year to 25.310 billion pounds. That outlook points to continued tight supply even as imports are expected to rise in 2026. ### What does that mean for menus right now? The Colorado Restaurant Association told FOX31 that rising beef costs are a “real concern” for local restaurants already facing broader cost increases. (ers.usda.gov) The group said menu prices were already up more than 3% since April 2025, according to national data, while consumers were resisting further increases for burgers, brisket and steak. The next federal cattle inventory update is scheduled as part of USDA’s regular reporting cycle later this year, while the ERS cattle-and-beef outlook page continues to post monthly forecast revisions. Colorado diners, meanwhile, can track the local effect through restaurants including Stoney’s Bar and Grill, Yazoo Barbeque and Pit Fiend Barbecue, which KDVR cited in its June 3 report. (kdvr.com)