Lowest cattle inventory in U.S. for July since 1973

July 25, 2014

2 Min Read
U.S. Cattle inventory down 3 percent from 2012

As of July 1, there were 95.0 million head of cattle on U.S. farms, according to the Cattle report published July 25 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This is the lowest inventory for July 1 since the series began in 1973.

All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 39 million, down 3% from two years ago.  Beef cows that calved equaled 39.7 million with the remainder 9.3 million being dairy cows. 

In other class estimates, beef replacement heifers were estimated at 4.1 million, down 2% from 2012.  Heifer retained in dairy herds totaled 3.9 million, drop 5%.

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The 2014 calf crop is expected to be 33.6 million, down 1% from 2013 and down 2% from 2012. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 24.3 million, down 2% from 2013 and down 3% from 2012.

Cattle on Feed Report

Compared to July 2013, cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head was 2% lower, totaling 10.1 million head on July 1, 2014. The inventory included 6.46 million steers and steer calves, down 1% from the previous year. This group accounted for 64% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.60 million head, down 5% from 2013.

Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.46 million, 6% below 2013. Net placements were 1.38 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lb. were 400,000, 600-699 pounds were 245,000, 700-799 pounds were 320,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 490,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.85 million, 2% below 2013. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of June since the series began in 1996.

Cattle on feed July 1, 2014, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 11.6 million, down 6% from the 12.30 million on July 1, 2012. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 87% of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2014, up slightly from July 1, 2012.

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