Cattle - Publication

Cattle
ISSN: 1948-9099

Released January 31, 2017, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

January 1 Cattle Inventory Up 2 Percent
All cattle and calves in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 93.6 million head. This is 2 percent above the
91.9 million head on January 1, 2016.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.6 million head, are 3 percent above the 39.5 million head on January 1, 2016.
Beef cows, at 31.2 million head, are up 3 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.35 million head, are up slightly from
the previous year.
All heifers 500 pounds and over, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 20.1 million head. This is 1 percent above the 19.9 million
head on January 1, 2016. Beef replacement heifers, at 6.42 million head, are up 1 percent from a year ago. Milk
replacement heifers, at 4.75 million head, are down 1 percent from the previous year. Other heifers, at 8.88 million head,
are 1 percent above a year earlier.
Calves under 500 pounds in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 14.4 million head. This is 2 percent above
the 14.1 million head on January 1, 2016. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 16.4 million head, up slightly from
one year ago. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 2.23 million head, up 4 percent from the previous year.

Calf Crop Up 3 Percent
The 2016 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 35.1 million head, up 3 percent from last year's calf crop. Calves
born during the first half of 2016 were estimated at 25.6 million head. This is up 4 percent from the first half of 2015.
Calves born during the second half of 2016 were estimated at 9.53 million head, 27 percent of the total 2016 calf crop.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.1 million head on
January 1, 2017. The inventory is down 1 percent from the January 1, 2016 total of 13.2 million head. Cattle on feed, in
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head, accounted for 81.2 percent of the total cattle on feed on January 1, 2017.
This is up 1 percent from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers
over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots) is 26.6 million head. This is 2 percent above one year ago.

Revisions
All inventory and calf crop estimates for January 1, 2016 were reviewed using calf crop, official slaughter, import and
export data, and the relationship of new survey information to the prior surveys. Based on the findings of this review,
January 1, 2016 all cattle and calves decreased by 0.1 percent, all cows and heifers that have calved decreased by 0.4
percent, and 2015 calf crop decreased by 0.6 percent.
State level estimates were reviewed and changes were made to reallocate inventory estimates to the United States total.

This report was approved on January 31, 2017.

Secretary of Agriculture
Designate
Robert Johansson

2

Agricultural Statistics Board
Chairperson
Joseph L. Parsons

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Contents
Cattle Inventory by Class and Calf Crop – United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017 ............................................................ 4
All Cattle and Calves Inventory – United States: January 1 ................................................................................................... 4
Cattle Inventory by Class – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017 .................................................................. 5
Calf Crop – States and United States: 2015 and 2016 ............................................................................................................ 9
All Cattle on Feed – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017 ........................................................................... 10
Number of Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pasture – 3-State Total: January 1, 2016 and 2017 ........................................... 11
Calf Crop and Percent of Total by Six Month Period – United States: 2015 and 2016 ........................................................ 11
Statistical Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Reliability of January 1 Cattle Estimates .............................................................................................................................. 13
Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 13

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Cattle Inventory by Class and Calf Crop – United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017
Class

2016

Percent of
previous year

2017

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

All cattle and calves ..............................................................................

91,918.0

93,584.6

102

All cows and heifers that have calved ....................................................
Beef cows .........................................................................................
Milk cows ..........................................................................................

39,476.2
30,165.8
9,310.4

40,559.2
31,210.2
9,349.0

103
103
100

All heifers 500 pounds and over ............................................................
For beef cow replacement .................................................................
Expected to calve 1 ........................................................................
For milk cow replacement .................................................................
Expected to calve 1 ........................................................................
Other heifers .....................................................................................

19,907.3
6,340.2
3,936.6
4,814.0
3,111.6
8,753.1

20,052.0
6,419.2
4,000.2
4,754.0
3,071.6
8,878.8

101
101
102
99
99
101

Steers 500 pounds and over .................................................................
Bulls 500 pounds and over ....................................................................
Calves under 500 pounds .....................................................................

16,315.4
2,142.4
14,076.7

16,353.5
2,233.6
14,386.3

100
104
102

All cattle on feed ...................................................................................

13,157.0

13,067.0

99

2015
Calf crop ...............................................................................................
1

Percent of
previous year

2016
34,086.7

35,082.7

103

Replacement heifers expected to calve during the year.

All Cattle and Calves Inventory – United States: January 1
Million head
105

100

95

90

85
1992

4

1997

2002

2007

2012

2017

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Cattle Inventory by Class – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017
All cattle and calves
State

All cows and heifers that have calved

2016

2017

Percent of
previous year

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

2016

2017

Percent of
previous year

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

Alabama ................
Alaska ...................
Arizona ..................
Arkansas ...............
California ...............
Colorado ................
Connecticut ...........
Delaware ...............
Florida ...................
Georgia .................

1,250.0
11.0
900.0
1,700.0
5,150.0
2,700.0
49.0
16.0
1,680.0
1,100.0

1,300.0
13.0
970.0
1,750.0
5,150.0
2,850.0
48.0
16.0
1,700.0
1,100.0

104
118
108
103
100
106
98
100
101
100

680.0
4.3
375.0
900.0
2,370.0
920.0
25.0
7.5
1,030.0
590.0

700.0
5.0
380.0
920.0
2,410.0
960.0
24.0
7.5
1,030.0
580.0

103
116
101
102
102
104
96
100
100
98

Hawaii ...................
Idaho .....................
Illinois ....................
Indiana ..................
Iowa .......................
Kansas ..................
Kentucky ................
Louisiana ...............
Maine ....................
Maryland ................

140.0
2,390.0
1,180.0
890.0
3,950.0
6,250.0
2,170.0
770.0
81.0
190.0

142.0
2,350.0
1,220.0
890.0
3,850.0
6,400.0
2,160.0
780.0
84.0
186.0

101
98
103
100
97
102
100
101
104
98

75.0
1,090.0
490.0
380.0
1,150.0
1,630.0
1,080.0
455.0
40.0
92.0

76.0
1,100.0
480.0
395.0
1,180.0
1,720.0
1,080.0
460.0
41.0
90.0

101
101
98
104
103
106
100
101
103
98

Massachusetts .......
Michigan ................
Minnesota ..............
Mississippi .............
Missouri .................
Montana ................
Nebraska ...............
Nevada ..................
New Hampshire .....
New Jersey ............

38.0
1,140.0
2,420.0
940.0
4,100.0
2,650.0
6,450.0
435.0
35.0
28.0

38.0
1,180.0
2,400.0
890.0
4,350.0
2,650.0
6,450.0
445.0
35.0
28.0

100
104
99
95
106
100
100
102
100
100

18.0
520.0
810.0
510.0
1,990.0
1,500.0
1,910.0
245.0
18.5
14.5

18.0
545.0
830.0
485.0
2,140.0
1,500.0
1,980.0
250.0
18.5
14.0

100
105
102
95
108
100
104
102
100
97

New Mexico ...........
New York ...............
North Carolina .......
North Dakota .........
Ohio .......................
Oklahoma ..............
Oregon ..................
Pennsylvania .........
Rhode Island .........
South Carolina .......

1,370.0
1,460.0
800.0
1,710.0
1,250.0
4,800.0
1,310.0
1,600.0
5.0
340.0

1,430.0
1,490.0
830.0
1,810.0
1,300.0
5,000.0
1,320.0
1,620.0
4.6
340.0

104
102
104
106
104
104
101
101
92
100

730.0
730.0
410.0
920.0
550.0
1,960.0
650.0
700.0
2.4
190.0

790.0
730.0
415.0
970.0
550.0
2,130.0
670.0
710.0
2.2
185.0

108
100
101
105
100
109
103
101
92
97

South Dakota .........
Tennessee .............
Texas ....................
Utah .......................
Vermont .................
Virginia ..................
Washington ...........
West Virginia .........
Wisconsin ..............
Wyoming ...............

3,900.0
1,830.0
11,800.0
840.0
260.0
1,490.0
1,150.0
390.0
3,500.0
1,310.0

3,850.0
1,830.0
12,300.0
820.0
260.0
1,520.0
1,150.0
405.0
3,550.0
1,330.0

99
100
104
98
100
102
100
104
101
102

1,780.0
930.0
4,750.0
420.0
144.0
720.0
500.0
210.0
1,550.0
710.0

1,780.0
950.0
4,950.0
430.0
143.0
730.0
500.0
215.0
1,570.0
720.0

100
102
104
102
99
101
100
102
101
101

United States .........

91,918.0

93,584.6

102

39,476.2

40,559.2

103
--continued

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Cattle Inventory by Class – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017 (continued)
Beef cows that have calved
State

2016

2017

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Milk cows that have calved
Percent of
previous year

2016

2017

Percent of
previous year

(percent)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

Alabama ................
Alaska ....................
Arizona ..................
Arkansas ................
California ...............
Colorado ................
Connecticut ............
Delaware ...............
Florida ....................
Georgia ..................

673.0
4.0
180.0
893.0
600.0
772.0
6.0
2.5
905.0
505.0

693.0
4.7
184.0
914.0
655.0
805.0
5.0
2.5
908.0
497.0

103
118
102
102
109
104
83
100
100
98

7.0
0.3
195.0
7.0
1,770.0
148.0
19.0
5.0
125.0
85.0

7.0
0.3
196.0
6.0
1,755.0
155.0
19.0
5.0
122.0
83.0

100
100
101
86
99
105
100
100
98
98

Hawaii ....................
Idaho ......................
Illinois .....................
Indiana ...................
Iowa .......................
Kansas ...................
Kentucky ................
Louisiana ...............
Maine .....................
Maryland ................

72.8
503.0
396.0
196.0
940.0
1,488.0
1,021.0
442.0
10.0
43.0

73.6
500.0
387.0
210.0
965.0
1,570.0
1,023.0
448.0
11.0
43.0

101
99
98
107
103
106
100
101
110
100

2.2
587.0
94.0
184.0
210.0
142.0
59.0
13.0
30.0
49.0

2.4
600.0
93.0
185.0
215.0
150.0
57.0
12.0
30.0
47.0

109
102
99
101
102
106
97
92
100
96

Massachusetts .......
Michigan ................
Minnesota ..............
Mississippi .............
Missouri .................
Montana .................
Nebraska ...............
Nevada ..................
New Hampshire .....
New Jersey ............

6.0
108.0
350.0
500.0
1,902.0
1,486.0
1,852.0
217.0
4.5
7.5

6.5
120.0
370.0
476.0
2,052.0
1,486.0
1,920.0
220.0
5.0
7.5

108
111
106
95
108
100
104
101
111
100

12.0
412.0
460.0
10.0
88.0
14.0
58.0
28.0
14.0
7.0

11.5
425.0
460.0
9.0
88.0
14.0
60.0
30.0
13.5
6.5

96
103
100
90
100
100
103
107
96
93

New Mexico ...........
New York ...............
North Carolina ........
North Dakota ..........
Ohio .......................
Oklahoma ..............
Oregon ...................
Pennsylvania .........
Rhode Island ..........
South Carolina .......

415.0
110.0
363.0
904.0
284.0
1,923.0
524.0
170.0
1.5
175.0

465.0
110.0
370.0
954.0
288.0
2,095.0
546.0
185.0
1.4
170.0

112
100
102
106
101
109
104
109
93
97

315.0
620.0
47.0
16.0
266.0
37.0
126.0
530.0
0.9
15.0

325.0
620.0
45.0
16.0
262.0
35.0
124.0
525.0
0.8
15.0

103
100
96
100
98
95
98
99
89
100

South Dakota .........
Tennessee .............
Texas .....................
Utah .......................
Vermont .................
Virginia ...................
Washington ............
West Virginia ..........
Wisconsin ..............
Wyoming ................

1,670.0
886.0
4,290.0
325.0
13.0
629.0
223.0
201.0
270.0
704.0

1,664.0
909.0
4,460.0
338.0
14.0
643.0
225.0
207.0
290.0
714.0

100
103
104
104
108
102
101
103
107
101

110.0
44.0
460.0
95.0
131.0
91.0
277.0
9.0
1,280.0
6.0

116.0
41.0
490.0
92.0
129.0
87.0
275.0
8.0
1,280.0
6.0

105
93
107
97
98
96
99
89
100
100

United States .........

30,165.8

31,210.2

103

9,310.4

9,349.0

100
--continued

6

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Cattle Inventory by Class – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017 (continued)
All heifers 500 pounds and over
State

Beef cow replacement

Milk cow replacement

Other

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Alabama ................
Alaska ...................
Arizona ..................
Arkansas ...............
California ...............
Colorado ................
Connecticut ...........
Delaware ...............
Florida ...................
Georgia .................

105.0
0.9
39.0
182.0
120.0
200.0
2.5
0.5
125.0
105.0

120.0
1.0
39.0
173.0
130.0
200.0
2.0
0.7
125.0
110.0

3.0
0.1
68.0
3.0
790.0
105.0
8.5
2.1
40.0
30.0

4.0
0.1
117.0
3.0
760.0
100.0
9.5
2.2
35.0
30.0

37.0
0.6
28.0
70.0
130.0
460.0
1.0
0.4
25.0
28.0

36.0
0.5
34.0
64.0
150.0
510.0
1.0
0.4
30.0
40.0

Hawaii ...................
Idaho .....................
Illinois ....................
Indiana ..................
Iowa .......................
Kansas ..................
Kentucky ................
Louisiana ...............
Maine ....................
Maryland ................

11.5
140.0
67.0
50.0
190.0
290.0
160.0
84.0
3.0
11.0

13.0
120.0
75.0
50.0
185.0
310.0
150.0
85.0
4.0
11.0

1.0
320.0
50.0
80.0
120.0
110.0
50.0
5.0
15.0
28.0

1.0
310.0
52.0
80.0
135.0
100.0
40.0
4.0
15.0
29.0

5.0
190.0
98.0
51.0
610.0
1,430.0
115.0
21.0
3.0
5.0

4.0
180.0
108.0
50.0
510.0
1,430.0
110.0
20.0
3.0
6.0

Massachusetts .......
Michigan ................
Minnesota ..............
Mississippi .............
Missouri .................
Montana ................
Nebraska ...............
Nevada ..................
New Hampshire .....
New Jersey ............

2.0
27.0
95.0
111.0
360.0
420.0
390.0
41.0
1.0
1.3

2.0
25.0
95.0
93.0
375.0
440.0
385.0
41.0
1.0
1.6

7.0
172.0
300.0
6.0
45.0
8.0
30.0
9.0
6.0
3.8

7.0
170.0
295.0
6.0
45.0
9.0
25.0
11.0
6.0
3.7

1.0
31.0
175.0
38.0
220.0
262.0
1,370.0
28.0
1.0
0.9

1.0
40.0
155.0
31.0
230.0
241.0
1,370.0
29.0
1.0
1.2

New Mexico ...........
New York ...............
North Carolina .......
North Dakota .........
Ohio .......................
Oklahoma ..............
Oregon ..................
Pennsylvania .........
Rhode Island .........
South Carolina .......

105.0
44.0
65.0
183.0
60.0
460.0
110.0
60.0
0.5
30.0

100.0
45.0
69.0
206.0
75.0
445.0
105.0
65.0
0.4
33.0

120.0
355.0
18.0
7.0
120.0
25.0
70.0
325.0
0.5
5.0

110.0
355.0
22.0
9.0
120.0
20.0
65.0
315.0
0.5
7.0

75.0
41.0
22.0
195.0
50.0
440.0
100.0
55.0
0.2
14.0

90.0
45.0
25.0
205.0
60.0
455.0
115.0
60.0
0.2
10.0

South Dakota .........
Tennessee .............
Texas ....................
Utah .......................
Vermont .................
Virginia ..................
Washington ...........
West Virginia .........
Wisconsin ..............
Wyoming ...............

375.0
160.0
790.0
95.0
5.0
100.0
60.0
35.0
80.0
188.0

395.0
145.0
810.0
85.0
5.5
112.0
58.0
38.0
80.0
185.0

50.0
27.0
250.0
50.0
55.0
47.0
130.0
4.0
735.0
5.0

45.0
35.0
260.0
55.0
56.0
38.0
120.0
4.0
710.0
3.0

550.0
93.0
1,240.0
75.0
5.0
58.0
120.0
18.0
45.0
122.0

530.0
90.0
1,350.0
60.0
6.5
70.0
117.0
17.0
50.0
137.0

United States .........

6,340.2

6,419.2

4,814.0

4,754.0

8,753.1

8,878.8
--continued

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Cattle Inventory by Class – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017 (continued)
State

Steers
500 pounds and over
2016

Bulls
500 pounds and over

2017

(1,000 head)

2016

(1,000 head)

Calves
under 500 pounds

2017

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

2016

2017

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Alabama ................
Alaska ....................
Arizona ..................
Arkansas ................
California ...............
Colorado ................
Connecticut ............
Delaware ...............
Florida ....................
Georgia ..................

50.0
0.4
270.0
125.0
610.0
810.0
2.0
2.0
25.0
37.0

50.0
0.5
265.0
110.0
600.0
850.0
2.0
1.9
30.0
37.0

50.0
2.5
20.0
55.0
70.0
55.0
0.5
0.3
55.0
30.0

50.0
2.7
20.0
60.0
70.0
55.0
0.5
0.3
60.0
33.0

325.0
2.2
100.0
365.0
1,060.0
150.0
9.5
3.2
380.0
280.0

340.0
3.2
115.0
420.0
1,030.0
175.0
9.0
3.0
390.0
270.0

Hawaii ....................
Idaho ......................
Illinois .....................
Indiana ...................
Iowa .......................
Kansas ...................
Kentucky ................
Louisiana ...............
Maine .....................
Maryland ................

9.5
290.0
200.0
115.0
1,320.0
2,010.0
225.0
22.0
3.5
14.0

10.0
300.0
240.0
108.0
1,300.0
2,050.0
210.0
25.0
4.0
14.0

4.0
40.0
25.0
18.0
60.0
90.0
70.0
30.0
1.5
5.0

4.0
40.0
25.0
17.0
60.0
95.0
70.0
31.0
1.5
4.0

34.0
320.0
250.0
196.0
500.0
690.0
470.0
153.0
15.0
35.0

34.0
300.0
240.0
190.0
480.0
695.0
500.0
155.0
15.5
32.0

Massachusetts .......
Michigan ................
Minnesota ..............
Mississippi .............
Missouri .................
Montana .................
Nebraska ...............
Nevada ..................
New Hampshire .....
New Jersey ............

2.0
170.0
520.0
41.0
440.0
230.0
2,340.0
42.0
1.5
2.0

2.0
169.0
500.0
42.0
460.0
230.0
2,290.0
45.0
1.5
2.1

1.0
15.0
40.0
39.0
115.0
105.0
95.0
13.0
0.5
1.0

1.0
16.0
35.0
38.0
120.0
100.0
110.0
14.0
0.5
1.0

7.0
205.0
480.0
195.0
930.0
125.0
315.0
57.0
6.5
4.5

7.0
215.0
490.0
195.0
980.0
130.0
290.0
55.0
6.5
4.4

New Mexico ...........
New York ...............
North Carolina ........
North Dakota ..........
Ohio .......................
Oklahoma ..............
Oregon ...................
Pennsylvania .........
Rhode Island ..........
South Carolina .......

120.0
33.0
36.0
255.0
200.0
950.0
170.0
140.0
0.5
12.0

120.0
40.0
43.0
255.0
220.0
900.0
155.0
160.0
0.5
8.0

35.0
17.0
29.0
60.0
25.0
145.0
40.0
25.0
0.1
14.0

35.0
20.0
31.0
65.0
30.0
160.0
40.0
25.0
0.1
15.0

185.0
240.0
220.0
90.0
245.0
820.0
170.0
295.0
0.8
75.0

185.0
255.0
225.0
100.0
245.0
890.0
170.0
285.0
0.7
82.0

South Dakota .........
Tennessee .............
Texas .....................
Utah .......................
Vermont .................
Virginia ...................
Washington ............
West Virginia ..........
Wisconsin ..............
Wyoming ................

780.0
145.0
2,560.0
90.0
4.0
160.0
170.0
36.0
380.0
145.0

740.0
135.0
2,590.0
80.0
4.0
165.0
190.0
39.0
400.0
160.0

95.0
60.0
320.0
25.0
3.0
40.0
18.0
15.0
30.0
40.0

100.0
65.0
340.0
27.0
3.0
40.0
18.0
15.0
30.0
40.0

270.0
415.0
1,890.0
85.0
44.0
365.0
152.0
72.0
680.0
100.0

260.0
410.0
2,000.0
83.0
42.0
365.0
147.0
77.0
710.0
85.0

United States .........

16,315.4

16,353.5

2,142.4

2,233.6

14,076.7

14,386.3

8

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Calf Crop – States and United States: 2015 and 2016
State

2015

Percent of
previous year

2016

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

Alabama .............................................................................
Alaska ................................................................................
Arizona ...............................................................................
Arkansas ............................................................................
California ............................................................................
Colorado .............................................................................
Connecticut ........................................................................
Delaware ............................................................................
Florida ................................................................................
Georgia ..............................................................................

580.0
3.5
295.0
760.0
1,960.0
800.0
19.5
6.0
800.0
490.0

600.0
4.0
320.0
780.0
1,820.0
830.0
18.5
6.0
810.0
490.0

103
114
108
103
93
104
95
100
101
100

Hawaii ................................................................................
Idaho ..................................................................................
Illinois .................................................................................
Indiana ...............................................................................
Iowa ....................................................................................
Kansas ...............................................................................
Kentucky .............................................................................
Louisiana ............................................................................
Maine .................................................................................
Maryland .............................................................................

60.0
940.0
415.0
335.0
1,060.0
1,330.0
970.0
345.0
30.0
75.0

59.0
930.0
410.0
340.0
1,090.0
1,480.0
980.0
350.0
32.0
68.0

98
99
99
101
103
111
101
101
107
91

Massachusetts ....................................................................
Michigan .............................................................................
Minnesota ...........................................................................
Mississippi ..........................................................................
Missouri ..............................................................................
Montana .............................................................................
Nebraska ............................................................................
Nevada ...............................................................................
New Hampshire ..................................................................
New Jersey .........................................................................

17.0
390.0
770.0
400.0
1,750.0
1,470.0
1,650.0
200.0
13.5
10.0

17.0
410.0
800.0
380.0
1,890.0
1,470.0
1,700.0
200.0
13.5
9.5

100
105
104
95
108
100
103
100
100
95

New Mexico ........................................................................
New York ............................................................................
North Carolina ....................................................................
North Dakota ......................................................................
Ohio ....................................................................................
Oklahoma ...........................................................................
Oregon ...............................................................................
Pennsylvania ......................................................................
Rhode Island ......................................................................
South Carolina ....................................................................

550.0
530.0
360.0
830.0
460.0
1,730.0
620.0
570.0
2.2
140.0

610.0
560.0
370.0
910.0
480.0
1,870.0
640.0
560.0
2.2
148.0

111
106
103
110
104
108
103
98
100
106

South Dakota ......................................................................
Tennessee ..........................................................................
Texas .................................................................................
Utah ....................................................................................
Vermont ..............................................................................
Virginia ...............................................................................
Washington ........................................................................
West Virginia ......................................................................
Wisconsin ...........................................................................
Wyoming ............................................................................

1,650.0
850.0
4,050.0
390.0
110.0
650.0
420.0
190.0
1,380.0
660.0

1,690.0
840.0
4,250.0
380.0
105.0
650.0
430.0
200.0
1,420.0
660.0

102
99
105
97
95
100
102
105
103
100

United States ......................................................................

34,086.7

35,082.7

103

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

All Cattle on Feed – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and 2017
[Cattle and calves on feed are steers and heifers being fed a ration of grain, silage, hay, and/or protein supplement for slaughter market that are
expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. It excludes cattle being "backgrounded only" for later sale as feeders or late placement in
another feedlot. Cattle and calves on feed are included in the cattle inventory estimates by class]
State

2016

Percent of
previous year

2017

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

Arizona ...............................................................................
California ............................................................................
Colorado .............................................................................
Idaho ...................................................................................
Illinois ..................................................................................
Indiana ................................................................................
Iowa ....................................................................................
Kansas ................................................................................
Kentucky .............................................................................
Maryland .............................................................................

257.0
450.0
910.0
250.0
240.0
115.0
1,230.0
2,230.0
17.0
9.0

253.0
430.0
940.0
270.0
260.0
110.0
1,160.0
2,300.0
18.0
9.0

98
96
103
108
108
96
94
103
106
100

Michigan .............................................................................
Minnesota ...........................................................................
Missouri ..............................................................................
Montana ..............................................................................
Nebraska ............................................................................
Nevada ...............................................................................
New York ............................................................................
North Dakota .......................................................................
Ohio ....................................................................................
Oklahoma ...........................................................................

170.0
405.0
100.0
50.0
2,520.0
2.0
16.0
55.0
160.0
280.0

145.0
375.0
110.0
45.0
2,470.0
3.0
20.0
50.0
150.0
310.0

85
93
110
90
98
150
125
91
94
111

Oregon ................................................................................
Pennsylvania ......................................................................
South Dakota ......................................................................
Texas ..................................................................................
Utah ....................................................................................
Virginia ................................................................................
Washington .........................................................................
West Virginia .......................................................................
Wisconsin ...........................................................................
Wyoming .............................................................................

75.0
85.0
435.0
2,440.0
27.0
22.0
195.0
4.0
275.0
70.0

85.0
95.0
380.0
2,430.0
20.0
20.0
190.0
4.0
270.0
75.0

113
112
87
100
74
91
97
100
98
107

Other States 1 .....................................................................

63.0

70.0

111

United States ......................................................................

13,157.0

13,067.0

99

1

Individual state estimates not available for states not shown, but are included in Other States.

10

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pasture – 3-State Total: January 1, 2016 and 2017
States

2016
(1,000 head)

Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas ..................................................

Percent of
previous year

2017
(1,000 head)

1,900.0

(percent)

1,800.0

95

Calf Crop and Percent of Total by Six Month Period – United States: 2015 and 2016
2015
Period

2016
Percent of
total

Number
(1,000 head)

Percent of
total

Number

(percent)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

January 1 - June 30 ...........................
July 1 - December 31 .........................

24,650.0
9,436.7

72.3
27.7

25,550.0
9,532.7

72.8
27.2

Total ..................................................

34,086.7

100.0

35,082.7

100.0

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: A random sample of United States producers were surveyed to provide data for these estimates.
Survey procedures ensured that all cattle producers, regardless of size, had a chance to be included in the survey. Large
producers were sampled more heavily than small operations. Data were collected from about 38,000 operators during the
first half of January by mail, telephone, internet, and face-to-face personal interviews and 69 percent of the reports were
usable. Regardless of when operators responded, they were asked to report inventories as of January 1.
Estimating Procedures: These cattle estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing
recommendations and analysis submitted by Regional Field Offices. National and State survey data were reviewed for
reasonableness with each other and with estimates from the previous year using a balance sheet. The balance sheet begins
with the previous inventory estimate, adds estimates of births and imports, and subtracts estimates of slaughter, exports,
and deaths. This indicated ending inventory level is compared to the Agricultural Statistics Board estimate for
reasonableness.
Revision Policy: Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve year to year and item to item relationships.
Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when current estimates are made. The reviews are primarily based
on livestock slaughter and additional foreign trade and survey data. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the
five-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date.
Reliability: Since all cattle operators are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability.
Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting,
recording, and processing the data. The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through
rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and
reasonableness.
To assist users in evaluating the reliability of estimates in this report, the “Root Mean Square Error" is shown for
selected items in the table on the following page. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past
performance and is computed using the differences between first and latest estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for
cattle inventory estimates over the past 10 years is 0.6 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final
estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 93.6 million head by more than 0.6 percent. Chances are 9 out
of 10 that the difference will not exceed 1.1 percent.
The table on the following page shows a 10 year record of the range of differences between first and latest estimates for
selected items. Using estimates of all cattle and calves as an example, changes between the first inventory estimate and the
latest estimate during the past 10 years have averaged 469,000 head, ranging from 70,000 to 796,000 head. During this
period the initial inventory estimate has been above the latest estimate 4 times and below the latest estimate 6 times. This
does not imply that the January 1 estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory.

12

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Reliability of January 1 Cattle Estimates
[Based on data for the past ten years]
Item

Root mean
square error
(percent)

90 percent
confidence
level
(percent)

Difference between first and latest estimate
Average

Smallest

Largest

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

Years
Below latest

Above latest

(number)

(number)

All cattle and calves .......................................

0.6

1.1

469

70

796

6

4

All cows and heifers that have calved ............

0.6

1.1

191

42

405

6

4

Calf crop ........................................................

0.9

1.6

240

44

602

5

5

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........................................................................................................... (202) 690-2424
Sherry Bertramsen – Livestock Slaughter ................................................................................................ (202) 720-3240
David Colwell – Sheep and Goats ............................................................................................................ (202) 720-8784
Donnie Fike – Dairy Products .................................................................................................................. (202) 690-3236
Michael Klamm – Cattle, Cattle on Feed ................................................................................................. (202) 720-3040
Mike Miller – Milk Production and Milk Cows ....................................................................................... (202) 720-3278
Seth Riggins – Hogs and Pigs .................................................................................................................. (202) 720-3106

Cattle (January 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” or “State” in upper right corner above “search”
box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].

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