Turbulence in the cattle market underscores the importance of improving management skills as the cattle cycle transitions from the all-time highs experienced a year ago, market analysts told farmers last week at the Cattle Industry Convention in San Diego.

Cattle farmers struggled the last half of 2015 as prices plummeted and led to losses of more than $500 per head, cattle market analysts said.

The losses came even as U.S. per-capita red meat and poultry consumption increased by nearly 10 pounds per person last year.

The steepest portion of the market correction has passed, said CattleFax CEO...