The number of cattle in the U.S. declined for the fifth consecutive year according to data released last week in the USDA Cattle Inventory report. The report was generally in line with pre-report estimates. The eye-popping statistic is that the total number of cattle and calves (including dairy) was at the lowest level since 1951 after a 1.9 percent decline from 2023-2024. However, for this article I want to focus on beef cows and highlight some of the state-level changes.
The total number of beef cows was reported at 28.2 million head for the U.S. as of January 1, 2024. This was a 2.5 percent decline from January 1, 2023, and was the third consecutive annual decline of greater than 2 percent. The beef cow herd is now 11 percent smaller than it was in 2019.
At the state level, 33 states experienced declines in the number of beef cows from 2023 to 2024. Kentucky is the 8th largest state in terms of beef cows and was the only state in the top 17 that saw an increase in beef cows (up 12 thousand head). Arkansas and Mississippi experienced 19 thousand and 15 thousand head declines in beef cows, respectively. Alabama had the largest drop in the southeast with a 40 thousand head decline. Beef cow head counts dropped the most in the three largest beef cow states: Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The combined 370 thousand head decline in these states represented more than half of the total U.S. decline (716 thousand head).
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Categories: Ohio, Livestock, Beef Cattle