Ohio Maintains Stable Cattle Inventory in 2024

By Andi Anderson

Ohio's cattle and calf inventory for January 1, 2024, holds firm at 1.24 million head, as reported by Ben Torrance, State Statistician of the USDA, NASS, Ohio Field Office. The state's cattle landscape reflects specific increases in beef cow and milk cow numbers, contributing to the overall stability of the inventory.

Ohio's key cattle inventory highlights for January 1, 2024, include:

• Beef Cow Numbers: A 2 percent increase to 285,000 head.
• Beef Replacement Heifers: Remaining unchanged at 55,000 head.
• Milk Cows: A 2 percent increase to 255,000 head.
• Heifers for Milk Cow Replacement: A 10 percent increase to 110,000 head.
• Calf Crop (2023): A 1 percent increase to 480,000 head.

In contrast, the national cattle and calf inventory for January 1, 2024, totals 87.2 million head, indicating a 2 percent decline from the previous year's 88.8 million head. A breakdown of the national figures reveals specific changes:

• All Cows and Heifers that Have Calved: A 2 percent decrease to 37.6 million head.
• Beef Cows: A 2 percent decrease to 28.2 million head.
• Milk Cows: A slight decrease from the previous year to 9.36 million head.
• All Heifers 500 Pounds and Over: A 1 percent decrease to 18.5 million head.
• Beef Replacement Heifers: A 1 percent decrease to 4.86 million head.
• Milk Replacement Heifers: A slight decrease from the previous year to 4.06 million head.
• Other Heifers: A 2 percent decrease to 9.57 million head.

The detailed inventory breakdown includes categories such as replacement heifers, steers, bulls, calves under 500 pounds, and cattle on feed. Ohio's stable cattle inventory underscores the resilience of the state's livestock sector, while the national decline reflects broader trends in the cattle industry.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-jessicahyde