JANUARY 1 CATTLE INVENTORY

DOWN 1 PERCENT

All cattle and calves in the United States as of

January 1, 2000, totaled 98.0 million head,

1 percent below the 99.1 million on January 1, 1999

and 2 percent below the 99.7 million two years ago.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.7

million, were slightly below the 42.9 million on

January 1, 1999 and 1 percent below the

43.1 million two years ago. Beef cows, at 33.5

million, were down 1 percent from both January 1,

1999 and two years ago. Milk cows, at 9.19 million,

were up 1 percent from January 1, 1999 but slightly

below two years ago. Other class estimates on

January 1, 2000, and the changes from January 1

last year and two years ago, respectively, are as

follows: All heifers 500 pounds and over, 19.5

million, down 1 percent and down 1 percent. Beef

replacement heifers, 5.53 million, down slightly and

down 4 percent. Milk replacement heifers, 3.95

million, down 3 percent and down 1 percent. Other

heifers, 10.0 million, down 1 percent and slightly

below two years ago. Steers weighing 500 pounds

and over, 16.7 million, down 1 percent and down 3

percent. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.29

million, up 1 percent and up 1 percent. Calves

under 500 pounds, 16.8 million, down 3 percent and

down 3 percent. All cattle and calves on feed for

slaughter, 14.0 million, up 6 percent and up 3

percent. 

CALF CROP DOWN SLIGHTLY

The 1999 calf crop was estimated at 38.7 million

head, down slightly from 1998 and down 1 percent

from 1997. Calves born during the first half of the

year are estimated at 28.5 million, the same as 1998

but down slightly from 1997.

CATTLE OPERATIONS DOWN 2 PERCENT

The number of operations with cattle totaled

1,095,960 during 1999, down 2 percent from 1998

and 5 percent below 1997. Beef cow operations in

1999 were down 1 percent from 1998 and 3 percent

below 1997. Milk cow operations were 5 percent

below last year and 10 percent below two years ago.

Included in this issue is a new table with additional

size group breakouts at the U.S. level for number of

operations and percent of inventory. 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 the 1-49 size group

for beef cows.

** REVISIONS **

All inventory and calf crop estimates for

January 1, 1999 and July 1, 1999 were revised

using final 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, the January 1, 1999

inventory was raised 0.6 percent; the July 1, 1999

inventory increased 0.2 percent; the 1998 calf crop

increased 0.6 percent; and the preliminary 1999 calf

crop set in July was raised 1.1 percent.

CATTLE AND CALVES INVENTORY: JANUARY 1, 1999 AND 2000

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

1999 2000 1999 2000

1,000 Head

All Cattle and Calves 810.0 840.0 99,115.0 98,048.0

 Cows that have calved 350.0 335.0 42,878.4 42,733.8

 Beef Cows that have calved 218.0 200.0 33,745.4 33,546.0

 Milk Cows that have calved 132.0 135.0 9,133.0 9,187.8

Heifers 500 pounds and over 97.0 88.0 19,774.2 19,528.3

 Beef Cow replacement 40.0 39.0 5,535.3 5,529.8

 Milk Cow replacement 23.0 26.0 4,068.8 3,953.7

 Other 34.0 23.0 10,170.1 10,044.8

Steers 500 pounds and over 210.0 210.0 16,890.9 16,652.2

Bulls 500 pounds and over 22.0 22.0 2,281.1 2,293.7

Calves under 500 pounds 131.0 185.0 17,290.4 16,840.0

Cattle and Calves on feed 1/ 206.0 272.0 13,219.0 13,983.0

Dollars

Value per Head 640 690 594 683

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 518,400 579,600 58,833,650 67,011,240

1998 1999 1998 1999

Operations Number

Cattle 3,200 3,200 1,115,650 1,095,960

Beef Cows 2,300 2,200 855,460 843,230

Milk Cows 250 250 117,180 111,220

1,000 Head

Calf Crop 285 280 38,812 38,710

1/ Total cattle on feed included in other classes.

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/

Wilbur Sherman, State Statistician

Eddie Oaks, Technical Leader

Clare Jervis, Agricultural Statistician

Ty Kalaus, Agricultural Statistician

Joel Lehman, Agricultural Statistician

ARIZONA

ANNUAL

LIVESTOCK

Released March 8, 2000, 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/
BEEF, PORK, AND RED MEAT PRODUCTION

SET RECORD HIGHS IN 1999

VEAL AND LAMB & MUTTON SET RECORD LOWS

Red meat production in commercial plants and on farms for the United States

totaled 46.3 billion pounds in 1999. This was 2 percent higher than the

previous record high set in 1998. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and

lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 46.1

billion pounds. Beef production, at 26.5 billion pounds, was up 3 percent from

a year earlier and 2 percent higher than the previous record high set in 1976.

Veal production totaled 233 million pounds, down 11 percent from the

previous record low set last year. Pork production, at 19.3 billion pounds,

eclipsed the previous record high set a year earlier by 2 percent. Lamb and

mutton production totaled 247 million pounds, falling 2 percent below the

previous record low set a year ago.

There were 909 slaughtering plants under federal inspection on January 1,

2000, compared with 931 last year. Of these, 759 slaughtered at least one

head of cattle during 1999 with 15 slaughtering over 55 percent of the total

cattle killed. There were 728 plants that slaughtered hogs, with 12 accounting

for over 50 percent of the total. Likewise, 9 of the 327 plants that slaughtered

calves accounted for over 55 percent of the total and 2 of the 561 plants that

slaughtered sheep or lambs in 1999 comprised nearly 40 percent of the total

head.

COMMERCIAL RED MEAT PRODUCTION: 1998 AND 1999 1/

Class Decembe

r 1998

Decembe

r 1999

January-December 

2/

1998 1999

1,000 Lbs

ARIZONA

Total Red Meat 30,300 30,200 328,800 359,000

Million Lbs

UNITED STATES

Beef 2,100 2,113 25,653 26,385

Veal 22 20 251 224

Pork 1,799 1,705 18,981 19,278

Lamb and Mutton 23 24 249 243

Total Red Meat 3,944 3,862 45,133 46,130

1/ Excludes slaughter on farms.

2/ Based on packers’ dressed weights.

U.S. HOG INVENTORY DOWN 4 PERCENT

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 1999, was 59.4 million

head. This was 4 percent below December 1998, and 2 percent below

September 1, 1999. Breeding inventory, at 6.24 million head, was down 7

percent from December 1, 1998, and down 1 percent from September 1,

1999. Market hog inventory, at 53.2 million head, was 4 percent below last

year, and 2 percent below last quarter. The September-November 1999 U.S.

pig crop, at 25.2 million head, was 3 percent less than 1998, and 1 percent

less than 1997. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.87 million head,

4 percent below last year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented

46 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs per litter rose to an

average of 8.78 pigs saved per litter for the September-November period,

compared to 8.66 pigs last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation

ranged from 7.40 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 8.90 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 1999- February 2000 quarter, 3 percent below the actual

farrowings during the same period in 1999, and 4 percent below 1998.

Intended farrowings for March-May 2000, at 2.83 million sows, are 5 percent

below the same period last year and 8 percent below 1998. The number of

hog operations with hogs totaled 98,460 during 1999, down 14 percent from

last year and 19 percent below 1997. Places with 2,000 or more hogs on

hand accounted for 7 percent of the operations and 69 percent of the

inventory. This is the fourth time operations with inventories over 2,000 head

have controlled over 50 percent of the total inventory. The number of

operations with over 5,000 head of inventory at 2,005 accounted for 46.5

percent of the total inventory, up from 42 percent a year ago. The total

number of hogs under contract, owned by these over 5,000 head operations,

but raised by contractees, accounted for 32 percent of the total U.S. hog

inventory up from 23 percent last year.

** REVISIONS **

All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 1999 through September 1999

were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, import, and export data

in U.S. level balance sheets. Based on the findings of this review, small

adjustments of less than one half percent were made to the inventory level for

June 1 and September 1. Adjustments of less than one half percent were

made to pig crops for December-February, March-May, and June-August.

HOGS AND PIGS INVENTORY: DECEMBER 1, 1998 AND 1999

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

1998 1999 1998 1999

1,000 Head

All Hogs and Pigs 115 140 62,206 59,407

 Breeding 17 19 6,682 6,244

 Market 98 121 55,523 53,164

Market Hogs and Pigs

 by Weight Groups

 Under 60 Lbs 42 47 20,140 19,298

 60-119 Lbs 21 25 13,631 13,106

 120-179 Lbs 17 24 11,585 11,073

 180 Lbs and over 18 25 10,168 9,687

Farrowing Dec 1/ - Feb 2/

 Sows farrowing 30 30 2,929 2,891

 Pigs per litter 8.50 9.03 8.70 8.73

 Pig Crop 255 271 25,480 25,247

Farrowings March - May

 Sows farrowing 3,086 2,986

 Pigs per litter 8.75 8.80

 Pig Crop 26,989 26,270

Farrowings June - August

 Sows farrowing 3,054 2,920

 Pigs per litter 8.72 8.86

 Pig Crop 26,634 25,860

Farrowings Sept - Nov

 Sows farrowing 2,993 2,869

 Pigs per litter 8.66 8.78

 Pig crop 25,902 25,192

Number

Operations with Hogs

 and Pigs 250 230 113,830 98,460

Dollars

Value per Head 48 79 44 72

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 5,520 10,920 2,765,847 4,261,389

1/ December 1, preceding year.

2/ Annual farrowings for Arizona (December-November).

UNITED STATES HONEY PRODUCTION DOWN 7 PERCENT

Honey production in 1999 from producers with five or more colonies

totaled 205 million pounds, down 7 percent from 1998. There were

2.69 million colonies producing honey in 1999, up 2 percent from

1998. Yield per colony averaged 76.3 pounds, down 7.4 pounds from

the 83.7 pounds in 1998. Colonies which produced in more than one

State were counted in each State and yields per colony may therefore

be understated. Colonies were not counted if honey was not

harvested. Producer honey stocks were 79.4 million pounds on

December 15, 1999, down 2 percent from a year earlier.

HONEY PRICES DOWN 8 PERCENT

Prices for the 1999 crop averaged 59.9 cents per pound, down

8 percent from 65.5 cents in 1998. Prices are based on retail sales

by producers and sales to private processors and co-ops. At the

State level, prices reflect the portions of honey sold retail, coop and

private. At the U.S. level, prices for each color are derived by

weighting quantities sold for each marketing channel. Coop and

Private prices were lower for all color classes in 1999.

HONEY PRODUCTION: 1998 AND 1999

Item ARIZONA UNITED STATES

1998 1999 1998 1999

Number of Honey Producing Colonies

(000 Colonies) 55 52 2,633 2,688

Yield per Colony

(Lbs) 60 62 83.7 76.3

Production 

(000 Lbs) 3,300 3,224 220,316 205,228

Stocks Dec 15

(000 Lbs) 1,485 1,548 80,808 79,361

Average price per

Lb (Cents) 64 62 65.5 59.9

Value of Production

(000 Dollars) 2,112 1,999 147,254 125,422
TOTAL SHEEP AND LAMB INVENTORY

DOWN 3 PERCENT

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States

on January 1, 2000, totaled 7.03 million head,

down 3 percent from 1999 and 10 percent below

two years ago. Inventory has declined since 1942

when it reached a peak of 56.2 million head.

Breeding sheep inventory declined to

5.16 million head on January 1, 2000, down

3 percent from 5.30 million head on

January 1, 1999. Ewes one year old and older, at

4.23 million head, were 2 percent below last year.

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2000,

totaled 1.86 million head, down 3 percent from

January 1, 1999. Market lambs comprised

96 percent of the total. Twenty-four percent were

lambs under 65 pounds, 17 percent were

65-84 pounds, 26 percent 85 - 105 pounds,

29 percent were over 105 pounds, and 4 percent

were market sheep.

The 1999 lamb crop of 4.72 million head was

down 6 percent from 1998 to a new record low.

The 1999 lambing rate was 109 per 100 ewes one

year old and older on January 1, 1999, compared

with 110 in 1998.

The number of operations with sheep during

1999 totaled 66,800, down 3 percent from 1998

and 8 percent from 1997.

ALL SHEEP AND LAMBS INVENTORY: JANUARY 1, 1999 AND 2000

Class ARIZONA UNITED STATES

1999 2000 1999 2000

1,000 Head

All Sheep and Lambs 140.0 155.0 7,215.0 7,026.0

Breeding Sheep and Lambs 68.0 66.0 5,299.0 5,163.0

 Ewes 58.0 58.0 4,322.0 4,228.0

 Rams 3.0 3.0 203.3 205.5

 Replacement Lambs 7.0 5.0 773.7 729.5

Market Sheep and Lambs 72.0 89.0 1,916.0 1,863.0

 Sheep 1.0 1.0 82.5 80.0

 Lambs 71.0 88.0 1,833.5 1,783.0

 under 65 Lbs 14.0 12.0 490.4 450.6

 65 to 84 Lbs 15.0 22.0 328.1 313.0

 85 to 105 Lbs 13.0 26.0 513.0 477.0

 over 105 Lbs 29.0 28.0 502.0 542.4

Dollars

Value per Head 89 96 88 95

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 12,460 14,880 367,634 668,130

1998 1999 1998 1999

Number

Operations with Sheep and Lambs 300 300 68,550 66,800

1,000 Head

Lamb Crop 47.0 45.0 5,007.0 4,719.0

ANGORA GOATS INVENTORY: JANUARY 1, 1999 AND 2000

Item

ARIZONA UNITED STATES

1999 2000 1999 2000

1,000 Head

Angora Goats 38 36 626 436

Dollars

Value per Head 40.00 43.00 37.40 39.60

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 1,520 1,548 23,428 17,268

EGG PRODUCTION UP 4 PERCENT

Egg production during the year ending November

30, 1999, totaled a record high 82.7 billion eggs,

up 4 percent from the previous year's total of

79.7 billion eggs. Table egg production, at

69.8 billion eggs, increased 4 percent from 1998.

Hatching egg production, at 12.9 billion eggs,

increased 4 percent. Average Number of

Layers Up 3 Percent: Layer numbers during

1999 averaged 322 million, up 3 percent from the

year earlier. The annual average production per

layer on hand in 1999 was 257 eggs, compared

with the 1998 average of 255 eggs per layer.

December 1 Inventory Numbers: The total

number of chickens on hand on December 1,

1999 (excluding commercial broilers) was 436

million birds, up 3 percent from last year.

Potential layers (layers 20 weeks old and older,

plus pullets 13 weeks and older but less than 20

weeks) on hand December 1, 1999, totaled 368

million, up 2 percent from December 1, 1998. Of

the 368 million potential layers, 90 percent were

20 weeks old and older and the remainder were

pullets 13 weeks and older but less than 20

weeks. The total value of all chickens on

December 1, 1999 was $1.15 billion, up

1 percent from December 1, 1998. The average

value decreased from $2.69 per bird on

December 1, 1998, to $2.65 per bird on

December 1, 1999.

CHICKEN AND EGG PRODUCTION: DECEMBER 1, 1998 AND 1999

Item

Other States 1/ UNITED STATES

1998 1999 1998 1999

1,000 Birds

All Chickens 1,994 2,731 425,045 436,326

Total Layers 1,657 2,258 321,718 329,305

 Layers 1 year old and older 1,142 1,860 151,298 151,914

 Layers 20 weeks old but less than 1 year 515 398 170,420 177,391

Total Pullets 334 471 95,645 97,362

 Pullets 13 weeks old & older but less

 than 20 weeks 113 200 39,664 38,587

 Pullet Chicks and pullets under 13

 weeks of age 221 271 55,981 58,775

Other Chickens 3 2 7,682 9,659

Dollars

Value per Head 1.79 1.66 2.69 2.65

1,000 Dollars

Total Value 3,576 4,532 1,143,835 1,154,840

1,000 Birds

Annual Average Number of All Layers 1,696 2,277 312,035 322,322

Number

Average Eggs per Layer 262 265 255 257

Million Eggs

Total Egg Production 445 604 79,690 82,707

1/ “Other States” includes Arizona, Alaska, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Dakota, not

published separately 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

--------------------------------------------

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

BULK RATE

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

USDA

PERMIT NO. G-38

US FARM NUMBERS CONTINUE GRADUAL UPWARD TREND

The number of farms in the United States in 1999 is estimated at

2.19 million, up fractionally from 1998. The increase in farm numbers

can be attributed to the continued rise in the number of small farms.

Total land in farms, at 947.3 million acres, was down 0.7 percent or

6.2 million acres from last year. This decline in land in farms

continues the historical trend of less land in farms. The average farm

size decreased 3 acres from 1998 to 432 acres. 

The U.S. number of farms in the $1,000-$9,999 economic sales

class increased 15,690 to 1,196,640 in 1999. Those with sales in the

$10,000-$99,999 economic sales class decreased 3,760 from 1998

to 648,550 farms. The $100,000 and over sales class dropped

9,220 farms from 1998 to 348,880 in 1999. The drop in this class is

attributed to low commodity prices during 1999.

The South Region showed the largest increase in number of farms,

up 2,300 or 0.2 percent. The North Central Region was the only

region to decline in farm numbers during 1999. This region was

down 500 farms or less than 0.1 percent from 1998.

Farm numbers during 1999 increased in 13 States, declined in

13 States, and remained unchanged in 24 States. States with an

increase of 1,000 farms were Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,

Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia.

States with a decrease of 1,000 farms were Alabama, Arkansas,

Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.

Farm and ranch land declined in a total of 26 States while the

remaining 24 were unchanged. Texas continues to lead the Nation

with 130.5 million acres of land in farms and ranches, down 1 million

acres from the previous year. Other States with significant

decreases in farmland were California (700,000 acres), Arizona and

New Mexico (600,000 acres), and Montana (500,000 acres).

NUMBER OF FARMS, LAND IN FARMS, AND AVERAGE SIZE FARM: BY STATE AND UNITED STATES, 1997-1999

Western

States

Farms Numbers Land in Farms Average Size Farm

1997 1998 1999 1997 1998 1999 1997 1998 1999

Number 1,000 Acres Number

AK 560 560 570 910 910 910 1,625 1,625 1,596

AZ 7,900 7,800 7,700 28,300 28,100 27,500 3,582 3,603 3,571

CA 87,000 89,000 89,000 28,700 28,500 27,800 330 320 312

CO 29,500 29,500 29,000 32,500 32,200 31,800 1,102 1,092 1,097

HI 5,500 5,500 5,500 1,440 1,440 1,440 262 262 262

ID 24,500 24,500 24,500 12,000 12,000 11,900 490 490 486

MT 27,000 27,500 28,000 57,800 57,500 57,000 2,141 2,091 2,036

NV 3,000 3,000 3,000 6,900 6,900 6,800 2,300 2,300 2,267

NM 15,500 16,000 15,500 45,300 45,300 44,700 2,923 2,831 2,884

OR 39,000 39,500 40,500 17,500 17,200 17,200 449 435 425

UT 15,000 15,000 15,500 11,600 11,600 11,600 773 773 748

WA 39,000 40,000 40,000 15,700 15,700 15,700 403 393 393

WY 9,200 9,200 9,200 34,600 34,600 34,600 3,761 3,761 3,761

Total West 302,660 307,060 307,970 293,250 291,950 288,950 969 951 938

US 2,190,510 2,191,360 2,194,070 956,010 953,500 947,340 436 435 432