U.S. cattle inventory down slightly on year

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U.S. cattle inventory down slightly on year

The USDA says there were slightly fewer cattle in the United States at the start of 2021 than there were at the start of 2020.

The inventory of 93.595 million head was down about 200,000 on the year, generally in-line with pre-report expectations and a potentially positive sign for prices.

More contraction is likely, with the 2020 calf crop 1% smaller than the 2019 total at 35.136 million head.

All cows and heifers that have calved were also slightly lower than a year ago at 40.598 million head, with a 1% decrease in beef cows cancelling out a 1% increase for milk cows at 31.158 million and 9.440 million head, respectively.

Heifers weighing 500 pounds and heavier were a little bit below last year at 20 million head, with a 2% decline in milk replacement heifers to 4.605 million head against a slight gain for beef replacement heifers at 5.812 million head and a modest rise for other replacement heifers to 9.584 million head.

Steers weighing more than 500 pounds were slightly higher at 16.598 million head, while bulls weighing more than 500 pounds and calves weighing less than 500 pounds were 1% lower at 2.211 million and 14.188 million head, respectively.

The USDA’s next set of cattle inventory numbers is out in July.

Year to year comparisons in selected categories for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: All: 1.77 million head, up 2%; Calf crop: 780,000 head, unchanged

Illinois: All: 1.05 million head, down 4%; Calf crop: 375,000 head, down 5%

Indiana: All: 850,000 head, up 1%; Calf crop: 340,000 head, up 1%

Iowa: All: 3.65 million head, down 5%; Calf crop: 1.03 million head, down 5%

Michigan: All: 1.14 million head, down 1%; Calf crop: 390,000 head, down 2%

Minnesota: All: 2.14 million head, down 5%; Calf crop: 750,000 head, down 3%

Missouri: All: 4.3 million head, unchanged; Calf crop: 1.91 million head, down 2%

Nebraska: All: 6.85 million head, up 1%; Calf crop: 1.75 million head, down 2%

Ohio: All: 1.26 million head, down 2%; Calf crop: 470,000 head, down 3%

South Dakota: All: 4 million head, up 3%; Calf crop: 1.78 million head, down 2%

Tennessee: All: 1.79 million head, down 1%; Calf crop: 850,000 head, down 1%

Wisconsin: All: 3.45 million head, unchanged; Calf crop: 1.4 million head, down 1%