January 1 U.S. Cattle Inventory 

Down 1 Percent

All cattle and calves in the United States as of

January 1, 2004, totaled 94.9 million head, 

1 percent below the 96.1 million on January 1,

2003. All cows and heifers that have calved, at

41.9 million, were down 1 percent from the 

42.1 million on January 1, 2003. Beef cows, at

32.86 million, were down slightly from January 1,

2003. Milk cows, at 8.99 million, were down 

2 percent from January 1, 2003. Other class

estimates on January 1, 2004 and the change

from January 1, 2003, are as follows: All heifers

500 pounds and over, 19.3 million, down 

1 percent. Beef replacement heifers, 5.52 million,

down 2 percent. Milk replacement heifers, 

4.02 million, down 2 percent. Other heifers, 

9.80 million, down 1 percent. Steers weighing 

500 pounds and over, 16.3 million, down 

2 percent. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over,

2.21 million, down 2 percent. Calves under 

500 pounds, 15.2 million, down 2 percent. Cattle

and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots,

13.8 million, up 4 percent. The combined total of

calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and

steers over 500 pounds outside of feedlots, 

27.5 million, down 4 percent.

Calf Crop Down 1 Percent

The 2003 calf crop was estimated at 37.9 million

head, down 1 percent from 2002. Calves born

during the first half of the year are estimated at

27.7 million, down 1 percent from 2002.

U.S. Cattle Operations Down 2 Percent

The number of operations with cattle totaled 

1.01 million during 2003, down 2 percent from

2002 and 3 percent below 2001. Beef cow

operations in 2003 were down 2 percent from

2002 and 3 percent below 2001. Milk cow

operations were 5 percent below last year and 

11 percent below two years ago. The three

operation classes: cattle, beef cows, and milk

cows, are classified into size groups

independently. Therefore, it is possible to have

more beef cow operations in a particular size

group than cattle operations. As an example, an

operator with 75 cattle and 40 beef cows would be

classified in the 50-99 size group for cattle and 1-

49 size group for beef cows.

**REVISIONS**

All inventory and calf crop estimates for July 1,

2002, January 1, 2003, and July 1, 2003 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, small adjustments of

less than one-half percent were made to

previously released inventory estimates by class

and calf crop. State level estimates were reviewed

and changes were made to reallocate inventory

and calf crop estimates to the U.S. total. Cattle on

Feed estimates for January 1, 2003 were revised

upward by 2% based on feedlots which were

added to the survey program due to the 2002

Census of Agriculture.

 Cattle and Calves Inventory: January 1, 2003 and 2004

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

2003 2004 2003 2004

1,000 Head

All Cattle and Calves 840.0 850.0 96,100.0 94,882.0

 Cows that have calved 325.0 330.0 42,125.0 41,850.8

 Beef Cows that have calved 170.0 175.0 32,983.3 32,860.3

 Milk Cows that have calved 155.0 155.0 9,141.7 8,990.5

Heifers 500 pounds and over 89.0 90.0 19,627.9 19,341.3

 Beef Cow replacement 34.0 33.0 5,623.5 5,517.2

 Milk Cow replacement 35.0 37.0 4,113.9 4,020.0

 Other 20.0 20.0 9,890.5 9,804.1

Steers 500 pounds and over 255.0 255.0 16,554.1 16,280.1

Bulls 500 pounds and over 21.0 22.0 2,247.9 2,205.6

Calves under 500 pounds 150.0 153.0 15,545.1 15,204.2

Cattle and Calves on feed 1/ 289.0 293.0 13,219.8 13,810.9

Dollars

Value per Head 2/ 760 820 728 819

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 638,400 697,000 69,948,620 77,733,180

2002 2003 2002 2003

Operations Number

Cattle 2,900 2,800 1,036,430 1,013,570

Beef Cows 2,100 2,000 808,110 792,050

Milk Cows 250 240 91,240 86,310

1,000 Head

Calf Crop 270 270 38,224 37,903

1/ Total cattle on feed included in other classes.

2/ 2003 revised.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Subscription to “Arizona Livestock” is free to

reporters upon request and available for $10 per

year to non-reporters. Send request for order

forms or address changes to Arizona Agricultural

Statistics Service, 3003 N Central Ave., Suite 950,

Phoenix, Arizona 85012-2994. Releases are also

available through our web site @

www.nass.usda.gov/az/

 

 Steven Manheimer, Director

 Dave DeWalt, Deputy Director

 Maria Bautista, Agricultural Statistician

 Clare Jervis, Agricultural Statistician

 Dennis Koong, Agricultural Statistician

 Tenopra Shepphard, Agricultural Statistician

 Dianne Matta, Agricultural Statistician

 

 

ARIZONA

ANNUAL

LIVESTOCK

Released May 25, 2004, by the Arizona Agricultural Statistics Service and University of Arizona, College of Agriculture, 3003 N Central Avenue, Suite 950, Phoenix,

Arizona 85012-2994, (602) 280-8850, Fax: (602) 280-8897, www.nass.usda.gov/az/
PORK PRODUCTION SETS RECORD HIGH IN 2003

Red meat production for the United States totaled 46.7 billion pounds in 2003,

1.3 percent below last year's record high. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork,

and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 46.6

billion pounds. On farm production totaled 136 million pounds. Beef production,

at 26.3 billion pounds, was 3 percent below the previous record high set last

year in 2002. Veal production totaled 201.3 million pounds, down 2 percent

from last year, and set a new record low. Pork production, at 20.0 billion

pounds, was 1 percent above last year, setting a new record high. Lamb and

mutton production totaled 203.7 million pounds, falling 8 percent below the

previous record low set a year ago. 

There were slightly over 850 slaughtering plants under federal inspection on

January 1, 2004 compared with 879 last year. Of these, 689 slaughtered at

least one head of cattle during 2003 with 15 slaughtering over 56 percent of the

total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 662 plants, with 13 accounting for

58 percent of the total. Likewise, 8 of the 290 plants that slaughtered calves

accounted for 57 percent of the total and 4 of the 505 plants that slaughtered

sheep or lambs in 2003 comprised 69 percent of the total head. 

COMMERCIAL RED MEAT PRODUCTION: 2002 AND 2003 1/

Class December

2002

December

2003

January-December 2/

2002 2003

1,000 Pounds

ARIZONA

Total Red Meat 36,300 31,300 449,000 424,900

Million Pounds

UNITED STATES

Beef 2,107 1,973 27,091 26,248

Veal 18 19 196 192

Pork 1,715 1,866 19,664 19,983

Lamb and Mutton 19 18 218 199

Total Red Meat 3,858 3,876 47,169 46,622

1/ Excludes slaughter on farms.

2/ Based on packers’ dressed weights.

U.S. HOG INVENTORY UP 1 PERCENT

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2003, was 60.0 million

head. This was 1 percent above December 1, 2002, but slightly below

September 1, 2003. Breeding inventory, at 5.97 million head, was down 

1 percent from December 1, 2002, but 1 percent above last quarter. Market hog

inventory, at 54.1 million head, was 1 percent above last year, but slightly below

last quarter. The September - November 2003 U.S. pig crop, at 25.3 million

head, was 2 percent more than 2002, but 1 percent below 2001. Sows

farrowing during this period totaled 2.84 million head, 1 percent above last year.

The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the breeding

herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 8.93 for the September - November

period, compared to 8.83 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation

ranged from 7.40 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 9.10 for operations with more

than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.81 million sows farrow during the

December 2003 - February 2004 quarter, 1 percent above the actual farrowings

during the same period in 2003, but 1 percent below 2002. Intended farrowings

for March - May 2004, at 2.85 million sows, are 1 percent below the same

period in 2003 and 3 percent below 2002. Revisions All inventory and pig crop

estimates for March 2002 through September 2003 were reviewed using final

pig crop official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data.

Based on the findings of this review, adjustments of less than one-half percent

were made to the March 2003 total inventory, and one percent to the June 2003

and September 2003 total inventories. An adjustment of less than one-half

percent was made to the December 2002 - February 2003 pig crop and a two

percent adjustment was made to the March - May 2003 pig crop. 

** REVISIONS **

All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 2002 through September 2003

were reviewed using final pig crop official slaughter, death loss, and updated

import and export data. Based on the findings of this review, adjustments of

less than one-half percent were made to the March 2003 total inventory, and

one percent to the June 2003 and September 2003 total inventories. An

adjustment of less than one-half percent was made to the December 2002 -

February 2003 pig crop and a two percent adjustment was made to the March -

May 2003 pig crop. 

HOGS AND PIGS INVENTORY: DECEMBER 1, 2002 AND 2003

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

2002 2003 2002 2003

1,000 Head

All Hogs and Pigs 143 127 59,513 60,040

 Breeding 14 16 6,012 5,966

 Market 129 111 53,501 54,074

Market Hogs and Pigs

 by Weight Groups

 Under 60 Lbs 44 32 19,461 19,821

 60-119 Lbs 29 27 13,054 13,250

 120-179 Lbs 28 26 10,881 10,839

 180 Lbs and over 28 26 10,105 10,164

Farrowing Dec 1/ 2/

 Sows farrowing 33 30 2,836 2,765

 Pigs per litter 7.91 8.33 8.74 8.81

 Pig Crop 261 250 24,794 24,359

Farrowings March - May

 Sows farrowing 2,943 2,881

 Pigs per litter 8.82 8.88

 Pig Crop 25,959 25,583

Farrowings June - August

 Sows farrowing 2,887 2,825

 Pigs per litter 8.90 8.90

 Pig Crop 25,700 25,150

Farrowings Sept - Nov

 Sows farrowing 2,817 2,836

 Pigs per litter 8.83 8.93

 Pig crop 24,892 25,314

Number

Operations with Hogs

 and Pigs 180 160 76,250 73,600

Dollars

Value per Head 3/ 76 71 71 66

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 10,868 9,017 4,209,683 3,986,301

1/ December 1, preceding year. 2/ Annual farrowings for Arizona (December- November). 3/ 2002 revised.

UNITED STATES HONEY PRODUCTION UP 5 PERCENT

Honey production in 2003 from producers with five or more colonies totaled

181 million pounds, up 5 percent from 2002. There were 2.59 million colonies

producing honey in 2003, up 1 percent from 2002. Yield per colony averaged

69.9 pounds, up 5 percent from the 66.7 pounds in 2002. Colonies which

produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State and yields

per colony may therefore be understated. Colonies were not included if honey

was not harvested. Producer honey stocks were 40.7 million pounds on

December 15, 2003, up 3 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by

producers exclude stocks held under the commodity loan program.

HONEY PRICES RECORD HIGH

Honey prices increased to a record high during 2003 to 140.4 cents, up 

6 percent from 132.7 cents in 2002. Prices are based on retail sales by

producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives. State level honey

prices reflect the portions of honey sold through retail, co-op and private

channels. U.S. honey prices for each color class are derived by weighing

quantities sold for each marketing channel at the U.S. level. Honey prices for

2003 were higher than the previous year for all color classes. Some 2002 crop

honey was sold at the higher prices in 2003, which caused some revisions to

the 2002 crop prices.

HONEY PRODUCTION: 2002 AND 2003

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

2002 2003 2002 2003

Number of Honey Producing Colonies

(000 Colonies) 38 40 2,574 2,590

Yield per Colony

(Pounds) 63 72 66.7 69.9

Production 

(000 Pounds) 2,394 2,880 171,71 181,096

Stocks Dec 15

(000 Pounds) 1,197 1,123 39,393 40,735

Average price per pound

(Cents) 108 138 132.7 140.4

Value of Production

(000 Dollars) 2,586 3,974 228,33 255,791
 U.S. Sheep and Lamb Inventory 

 Down 3 Percent

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on

January 1, 2004, totaled 6.09 million head, down 3

percent from 2003 and 9 percent below two years ago.

The inventory has trended downward since peaking at

56.2 million head in 1942.

Breeding sheep inventory declined to 4.48 million head

on January 1, 2004, down 4 percent from 4.66 million

head on January 1, 2003. Ewes one year old and older,

at 3.60 million head, were 4 percent below last year.

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2004, totaled

1.61 million head, down 2 percent from January 1, 2003.

Market lambs comprised 96 percent of the total. Twentyseven percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 16

percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 23 percent 85 - 105

pounds, 30 percent were over 105 pounds, and 4 percent

were market sheep.

The 2003 lamb crop of 4.12 million head was down 5

percent from 2002 and established a new record low.

The 2003 lambing rate was 109 lambs per 100 ewes one

year old and older on January 1, 2003, unchanged from

2002.

The number of operations with sheep totaled 67,620

during 2003, down 1 percent from 2002 and 2001.

All Sheep and Lambs Inventory: January 1, 2003 and 2004

Class ARIZONA UNITED STATES

2003 2004 2003 2004

1,000 Head

All Sheep and Lambs 115.0 114.0 6,300.0 6,090.0

Breeding Sheep and Lambs 57.0 57.0 4,658.0 4,480.0

 Ewes 49.0 48.0 3,770.0 3,601.0

 Rams 3.0 3.0 193.0 188.5

 Replacement Lambs 5.0 6.0 695.0 690.5

Market Sheep and Lambs 58.0 57.0 1,642.0 1,610.0

 Sheep 2.0 2.0 66.8 67.3

 Lambs 56.0 55.0 1,575.2 1,542.7

 under 65 Pounds 11.0 11.0 441.0 433.0

 65 to 84 Pounds 16.0 15.0 266.3 255.5

 85 to 105 Pounds 17.0 16.0 393.0 367.4

 over 105 Pounds 12.0 13.0 474.9 486.8

Dollars

Value per Head 115 121 104 118

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 13,225 13,794 654,288 721,314

2002 2003 2002 2003

Number

Operations with Sheep and Lambs 250 270 68,150 67,620

1,000 Head

Lamb Crop 34.0 34.0 4,357.0 4,120.0

Angora Goats Inventory: January 1, 2003 and 2004

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

2003 2004 2003 2004

1,000 Head

Angora Goats 30 30 285 260

Dollars

Value per Head 60.00 65.00 55.80 63.30

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 1,800 1,950 15,900 16,460

 

U.S. Egg Production Up Slightly

Egg Production up slightly: Egg production during the

year ending November 30, 2003 totaled a record high

87.2 billion eggs, up slightly from 2002. Table egg

production, at 74.4 billion eggs, was up slightly from the

previous year. Hatching egg production, at 12.8 billion

eggs, decreased 1 percent from 2002.

Average Number of Layers Down 1 Percent: Layer

numbers during 2003 averaged 337 million, down 1

percent from the year earlier. The annual average

production per layer on hand in 2003 was 259 eggs, up

one percent from the 2002 average of 257.

December 1 Inventory Numbers: The total number of

chickens on hand on December 1, 2003 (excluding

commercial broilers) was 449 million birds, up 1 percent

from last year.

The total value of all chickens on December 1, 2003 was

$1.11 billion, up 5 percent from December 1, 2002. The

average value increased from $2.37 per bird on

December 1, 2002, to $2.47 per bird on

December 1, 2003.

Chicken and Egg Production: December 1, 2002 and 2003

Item

Other States 1/ UNITED STATES

2002 2003 2002 2003

1,000 Birds

All Chickens 7,294 8,068 443,881 448,748

Total Layers 5,880 6,206 339,203 339,989

 Layers 1 year old and older 3,209 3,369 153,027 169,263

 Layers 20 weeks old but less than 1 2,671 2,837 186,176 170,726

Total Pullets 1,395 1,849 96,325 100,321

 Pullets 13 weeks old & older but less

 than 20 weeks 291 403 39,679 42,030

 Pullet Chicks and pullets under 13

 weeks of age 1,104 1,446 56,646 58,291

Other Chickens 19 13 8,353 8,438

Dollars

Value per Head 1.89 1.80 2.37 2.47

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 13,766 14,498 1,052,230 1,108,304

1,000 Birds

Annual Average Number of All Layers 5,627 6,102 339,024 337,262

Number

Average Eggs per Layer 273 272 257 259

Million Eggs

Total Egg Production 1,537 1,660 87,179 87,196

1/ “Other States” includes Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, North 

Dakota, and Rhode Island combined to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

Arizona Agricultural Statistics Service

3003 N Central Ave., Suite 950

Phoenix, Arizona 85012-2994

PRESORTED STANDARD

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

USDA

PERMIT NO. G-38

 www.usda.gov/nass

Farms and Land in Farms Decline Slightly in 2003

The number of farms in the United States in 2003 is estimated at 2.13

million, 0.4 percent fewer than in 2002. The decline in farms occurred in

all sales categories except the $250,000-$499,999 class which remained

unchanged. Total land in farms, at 938.8 million acres, decreased

1,550,000 acres from 2002. The average size farm during 2003 was 441

acres, an increase of one acre from the previous year. The decline in the

number of farms and land in farms continues to reflect consolidation in

farming operations and competition for agricultural land for other uses.

The U.S. number of agricultural operations in the economic sales class

$1,000-$9,999 declined 0.2 percent to 1,199,270 in 2003. Farms with

sales of $10,000-$99,999 decreased 0.7% from 2002 to 600,530. The

number of farms with $100,000-$249,999 in sales was 167,230, a decline

of 0.9 percent. In the $250,000-$499,999 sales class, the number of

farms was unchanged from the previous year. The number of agricultural

operations with $500,000 or more of sales declined 0.4% from 2002.

Generally favorable weather, stronger commodity prices, higher value of

commodities produced, farm consolidation, and competition for other uses

of farmland contributed to the shifting of farms among the sales

categories.

The number of farms in the North Central Region decreased by 5,300 (0.7

percent) and the number of farms in the West Region declined by 1,800

(0.6 percent). 

The South Region lost 1,300 farms (0.1 percent). The number of farms

declined 100 (0.1 percent) in the Northeast Region. 

The number of farms in 2003 declined in 20 States, remained unchanged

in 28 States, and increased in two States. The largest decline in farms

occurred in California which lost 1,200 places followed by Missouri with

1,000. Other notable declines were: Minnesota and Nebraska, 900;

Indiana, 800; North Carolina, 700; Iowa, 600; and Tennessee,

Washington, and Wisconsin each losing 500 farms. For the two states

with increased farm numbers, Mississippi added 600 and Montana 100

places.

Texas, with 130.5 million acres of farm and ranch land, leads the nation.

The farm and ranch acreage for Texas in 2003 was unchanged from

2002. States with the largest decreases in land in farms were: California,

down 500,000 acres; Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas,

Minnesota, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Wisconsin each lost 100,000

acres. Other states showing declines in agricultural acreage were:

Virginia, 70,000 acres; Indiana and Wyoming, 60,000 acres; Louisiana

and Washington, 50,000 acres; Maryland, 20,000 acres; and Delaware,

New York, Ohio, and Vermont each with 10,000 fewer acres. After

several years of drought conditions, renewed public grazing allotments

contributed to an increase of 300,000 acres in Montana’s ranch land.

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 2001-2003

Western

States

Farms Numbers 1/ Land in Farms Average Size Farm

2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003

Number 1,000 Acres Acres

AK 600 610 610 900 900 900 1,500 1,475 1,475

AZ 1/ 10,400 10,300 10,300 26,700 26,600 26,500 2,567 2,583 2,573

CA 81,000 79,700 78,500 27,800 27,600 27,100 343 346 345

CO 30,900 31,400 31,400 31,400 31,100 31,000 1,016 990 987

HI 5,500 5,500 5,500 1,350 1,300 1,300 245 236 236

ID 24,500 25,000 25,000 11,800 11,800 11,800 482 472 472

MT 27,800 27,900 28,000 59,600 59,800 60,100 2,144 2,143 2,146

NV 3,050 3,000 3,000 6,300 6,300 6,300 2,066 2,100 2,100

NM 17,800 17,700 17,500 44,800 44,800 44,700 2,517 2,531 2,554

OR 40,000 40,000 40,000 17,200 17,200 17,200 430 430 430

UT 15,500 15,300 15,300 11,600 11,600 11,600 748 758 758

WA 36,500 36,000 35,500 15,400 15,350 15,300 422 426 431

WY 9,200 9,200 9,200 34,500 34,500 34,440 3,750 3,750 3,743

Total West 302,750 301,610 299,810 289,350 288,850 288,240 956 958 961

US 2,148,630 2,135,360 2,126,860 942,070 940,300 938,750 438 440 441

1/ Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.