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January 1 Cattle Inventory Down Slightly 

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2008, 

totaled 96.7 million head, slightly below the 97.0 million on 

January 1, 2007. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 41.8 

million, were down 1 percent from the 42.0 million on January 1, 

2007. Beef cows, at 32.6 million, were down 1 percent from 

January 1, 2007. Milk cows, at 9.22 million, were up 1 percent 

from January 1, 2007. Other class estimates on January 1, 2008, 

and the change from January 1, 2007, are as follows: All heifers 

500 pounds and over, 20.0 million, down slightly. Beef 

replacement heifers, 5.67 million, down 4 percent. Milk 

replacement heifers, 4.46 million, up 3 percent. Other heifers, 

9.88 million, down slightly. Steers weighing 500 pounds and 

over, 17.3 million, up slightly. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and 

over, 2.21 million, down slightly. Calves under 500 pounds, 15.4 

million, down 1 percent. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter 

in all feedlots, 14.3 million, up slightly. The combined total of 

calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and steers over 500 

pounds outside of feedlots was 28.2 million, down slightly. 

Calf Crop Down Slightly

The 2007 calf crop was estimated at 37.4 million head, down 

slightly from 2006. Calves born during the first half of the year 

are estimated at 27.2 million, down 1 percent from 2006. 

U.S. Cattle Operations Down Slightly 

The number of operations with cattle totaled 967,440 during 

2007, down slightly from 2006 and 2 percent below 2005. Beef 

cow operations in 2007 were down 1 percent from 2006 and 2 

percent below 2005. Milk cow operations were 5 percent below 

last year and 9 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, 2006, January 1, 

2007, and July 1, 2007, 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 of beef cows, 

milk cows, milk replacement heifers expected to calve, and calf 

crop. State level estimates were reviewed and changes were made 

to reallocate inventory and calf crop estimates to the U.S. total. 

No revisions were made to the Cattle on Feed estimate for 

January 1, 2007. 

Cattle and Calves Inventory: January 1, 2007 – 2008 

Arizona United States Class 2007 2008 2007 2008 

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Cattle and Calves 940 970 97,003 96,669

 Cows that have calved 350 350 42,023 41,777

 Beef Cows that have calved 175 165 32,891 32,553

 Milk Cows that have calved 175 185 9,132 9,224

Heifers 500 pounds and over 

 Beef Cow replacement 33 30 5,877 5,670

 Milk Cow replacement 50 50 4,310 4,457

 Other 17 15 9,899 9,876

Steers 500 pounds and over 340 375 17,222 17,305

Bulls 500 pounds and over 20 20 2,215 2,207

Calves under 500 pounds 130 130 15,456 15,378

Cattle on feed 334 368 14,269 14,317

 

Dollars Dollars 

Value per Head 1,010 1,120 922 987

 

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 949,400 1,086,400 89,446,602 95,401,289

 

2006 2007 2006 2007 

Operations Number Number 

Cattle and Calves 2,600 2,700 971,400 967,440

Beef Cows 1,900 1,900 762,880 757,900

Milk Cows 190 180 74,980 71,510

 

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Calf Crop 280 275 37,519 37,361

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 USDA, 

NASS - Arizona Field Office, 230 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 303, Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1706. 

Releases are also available through our web site @ www.nass.usda.gov/az

 

Director 

Steve Manheimer

 Deputy Director 

Dave DeWalt

 Agricultural Statisticians: 

Maria Bautista 

Clare Jervis 

Curt Stock 

Jeff Lemmons 

Dianne Matta 

ARIZONA ANNUAL LIVESTOCK 

2008 --- Released March 7, 2008
Total red Meat Sets All Time Record High In 2007 

Total red meat production for the United States totaled 48.8 billion pounds 

in 2007, 2 percent higher than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, 

veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial 

plants totaled 48.7 billion pounds. On-farm production totaled 135 million 

pounds. Beef production totaled 26.5 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the 

previous year. Veal production totaled 146 million pounds, down 6 percent 

from last year. Pork production, at 22.0 billion pounds, was 4 percent above 

the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 188 million pounds, 

down 1 percent from 2006. 

There were 808 plants slaughtering under federal inspection on January 1, 

2008 compared with 795 last year. Of these, 626 plants slaughtered at least 

one head of cattle during 2007 with the 14 largest plants slaughtering 54 

percent of the total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 618 plants, with 

the 11 largest plants accounting for 51 percent of the total. Likewise, 6 of 

the 232 plants that slaughtered calves accounted for 63 percent of the total 

and 4 of the 480 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs in 2007 comprised 

68 percent of the total head. 

Commercial Red Meat Production: 2005 - 2007 1/ 

January-December 2/ Class 

2005 2006 2007 

Million Pounds

Arizona 

Total Red Meat 360.5 386.5 405.9

 

United States 

Beef 24,683 26,152 26,421

Veal 156 147 137

Pork 20,685 21,054 21,943

Lamb and Mutton 187 185 183

Total Red Meat 45,711 47,537 48,684

1/ Excludes slaughter on farms. 

2/ Based on packers; dressed weights. 

U.S. Hog Inventory Up 4 Percent

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2007 was 65.1 million 

head. This was up 4 percent from December 1, 2006, but down 1 percent 

from September 1, 2007. 

 

Breeding inventory, at 6.16 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, 

and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 59.0 

million head, was up 5 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last 

quarter. 

 

The September-November 2007 pig crop, at 28.0 million head, was up 4 

percent from 2006 and up 7 percent from 2005. Sows farrowing during this 

period totaled 3.03 million head, up 3 percent from 2006 and up 4 percent 

from 2005. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of 

the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 9.24 for the 

September-November 2007 period, compared to 9.11 last year. Pigs saved 

per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.40 for operations with 1-99 

hogs and pigs to 9.30 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs. 

 

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.98 million sows farrow during the 

December 2007-February 2008 quarter, up 2 percent from the actual 

farrowings during the same period in 2007, and up 5 percent from 2006. 

Intended farrowings for March-May 2008, at 3.04 million sows, are up 

slightly from 2007 and up 4 percent from 2006. 

 

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 

5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 39 percent of the total 

U.S. hog inventory, up from 38 percent last year.

** Revisions **

All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 2006 through September 

2007 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 two percent were made to the June 2007 and 

September 2007 total inventory. An adjustment of less than three percent 

was made to the March-May 2007 pig crop while an adjustment of slightly 

more than one-half of one percent was made to the June-August 2007 pig 

crop. 

Hogs and Pigs Inventory: December 1, 2006 – 2007 

Arizona United States Item 2006 2007 2006 2007

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Hogs and Pigs 148 175 62,490 65,110

 Breeding 16 17 6,087 6,157

 Market 132 158 56,402 58,953

Market Hogs and Pigs

 by Weight Groups

 Under 60 Lbs 49 62 20,462 21,364

 60-119 Lbs 28 32 13,928 14,459

 120-179 Lbs 27 32 11,275 11,737

 180 Lbs and over 28 32 10,738 11,394

Annual Farrowings 1/

 Sows farrowing 31 32 11,629 11,960

 Pigs per litter 9.00 9.47 9.08 9.19

 Pig Crop 279 303 105,618 109,937

Number Number

Operations with Hogs 

 and Pigs 150 150 65,940 65,640

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 93 76 89 73

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 13,764 13,300 5,585,812 4,725,933

1/ December 1, preceding year through November.

United States Honey Production Down 4 Percent

Honey production in 2007 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 148 

million pounds, down 4 percent from 2006. There were 2.44 million colonies 

producing honey in 2007, up 2 percent from 2006. Yield per colony averaged 

60.8 pounds, down 6 percent from the 64.7 pounds in 2006. Colonies which 

produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State where the 

honey was produced. Therefore, yields per colony may be understated, but total 

production would not be impacted. Colonies were not included if honey was not 

harvested. Producer honey stocks were 52.5 million pounds on December 15, 

2007, down 13 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude 

stocks held under the commodity loan program. 

 

Honey Prices Down Slightly 

The 2007 all honey price was 103.2 cents, down slightly from 103.6 cents in 

2006. U.S. and State level prices reflect the portions of honey sold through 

retail, cooperatives, and private channels. Prices for each color class are derived 

by weighting the quantities sold for each marketing channel. Prices for the 2006 

crop reflect honey sold in 2006 and 2007. 

Honey Production: 2006 – 2007 

Arizona United States Item 2006 2007 2006 2007 

Number of Honey 

Producing Colonies 1/ 

(1,000 Colonies) 30 30 2,393 2,442

Yield per Colony 

(Pounds) 65 64 64.7 60.8

Production 

(1,000 Pounds) 1,950 1,920 154,907 148,482

Stocks Dec. 15 2/ 

(1,000 Pounds) 839 902 60,548 52,484

Average Price per Pound 

(Cents) 93 118 103.6 103.2

Value of Production 

(1,000 Dollars) 1,814 2,266 160,484 153,233

1/ For producers with 5 or more colonies. 

2/ Stocks held by producers. 
Total Sheep and Lamb Inventory Down 2 Percent

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 

1, 2008, totaled 6.06 million head, down 2 percent from 2007. 

After consecutive increases in 2005 and 2006, inventory has 

now declined for the past two years. 

 

Breeding sheep inventory decreased to 4.51 million head on 

January 1, 2008, down 2 percent from 4.61 million head on 

January 1, 2007. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.62 million 

head, were 2 percent below last year. 

 

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2008, totaled 1.55 

million head, down slightly from January 1, 2007. Market 

lambs comprised 95 percent of the total marketings. Twentyfour percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 14 percent were 65 - 

84 pounds, 26 percent were 85 - 105 pounds, and 36 percent 

were over 105 pounds. Market sheep comprised the remaining 

5 percent of total marketings. 

 

The 2007 lamb crop of 4.05 million head, was down slightly 

from 2006. The 2007 lambing rate was 110 lambs per 100 

ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2007, down 1 

percent from 2006. 

 

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2007 was 

34.5 million pounds, down 4 percent from 2006. Sheep and 

lambs shorn totaled 4.71 million head, down 3 percent from 

2006. The average price paid for wool sold in 2007 was $0.88 

per pound for a total value of 30.3 million dollars, up 23 

percent from 24.5 million dollars in 2006. 

The number of operations with sheep totaled 70,590 during 

2007, up 2 percent from 2006 and up 3 percent from 2005. Of 

all sheep operations that include breeding sheep, 91.1 percent 

were comprised of 1-99 head, 7.4 percent had 100-499 head, 

and the remaining 1.5 percent were operations with 500 head 

or more. Operations with 1-99 head account for 30.8 percent 

of the inventory, 100-499 head account for 23.1 percent of the 

inventory, and 500+ head account for 46.1 percent of the 

inventory. 

Total Goat and Kid Inventory Up 3 Percent

All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2008, 

totaled 3.02 million head, up 3 percent from 2007. Breeding 

goat inventory totaled 2.50 million head up 2 percent from 

2007. All market goats and kids totaled 520,000 head, up 4 

percent from a year ago. On January 1, 2008 meat and all 

other goats totaled 2.50 million head, up 4 percent from 2007. 

Milk goat inventory increased 4 percent to 305,000 head while 

angora goats were down 12 percent totaling 210,000 head. 

The 2007 kid crop totaled 1.94 million head for all goats, up 1 

percent from 2006. 

U.S. Chicken and Egg Production Highlights 

U.S. Average Number of Layers Down 1 Percent: Layer 

numbers during 2007 averaged 344 million, down 1 percent 

from the year earlier. The annual average production per layer 

on hand in 2007 was 263 eggs, unchanged from 2006. 

 

U.S. Egg Production Down 1 Percent: Egg production during 

the year ending November 30, 2007 totaled 90.6 million eggs, 

down 1 percent from 2006. Table egg production, at 77.3 

million eggs, was down 1 percent from the previous year. 

Hatching egg production, at 13.3 million eggs, was up 2 

percent from 2006. 

 

U.S. December 1 Inventory Numbers: The total number of 

chickens on hand on December 1, 2007 (excluding commercial 

broilers) was 455 million birds, up slightly from last year. 

 

U.S. Total Value: The total value of all chickens on December 

1, 2007 was $1.34 billion, up 13 percent from December 1, 

2006. The average value increased from $2.61 per bird on 

December 1, 2006, to $2.95 per bird on December 1, 2007.

All Sheep and Lambs Inventory: January 1, 2007 - 2008 

Arizona United States Class 2007 2008 2007 2008 

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 

All Sheep and Lambs 110.0 120.0 6,165.0 6,055.0

Breeding Sheep and Lambs 72.0 70.0 4,610.0 4,505.0

 Ewes 58.0 59.0 3,696.0 3,617.0

 Rams 4.0 4.0 195.0 193.0

 Replacement Lambs 10.0 7.0 719.0 695.0

Market Sheep and Lambs 38.0 50.0 1,555.0 1,550.0

 Sheep 2.0 4.0 89.0 80.0

 Lambs 36.0 46.0 1,466.0 1,470.0

 under 65 Pounds 10.0 11.0 362.1 352.2

 65 to 84 Pounds 6.0 5.0 200.8 209.0

 85 to 105 Pounds 11.0 11.0 372.6 377.4

 over 105 Pounds 9.0 19.0 530.5 531.4

 

Dollars Dollars 

Value per Head 142 145 134 138

 

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars 

Total Value 15,620 17,400 823,846 836,092

 

 2006 2007 2006 2007 

Number Number 

Operations with Sheep and 

 Lambs 230 250 69,470 70,590

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 

Lamb Crop 44.0 42.0 4,065.0 4,050.0

Goat Inventory: January 1, 2007 - 2008 

Arizona United States Item 2007 2008 2007 2008 

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 

Angora 18,000 18,000 238,000 210,000

Milk 2,000 2,000 294,000 305,000

Meat & Other 10,000 11,000 2,402,000 2,500,000

Dollars Dollars 

Value per Head (Angora) 75.00 75.00 78.50 74.80

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars 

Total Value 1,350 1,350 16,319 13,423

Wool: Production, Price, and Value, Arizona and United States, 2006 - 2007 

Arizona United States Item 2006 2007 2006 2007 

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 

Sheep Shorn 100.0 105.0 4,852.0 4,705.0

Pounds Pounds

Weight per Fleece 6.0 5.9 7.4 7.3

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds 

Production 600 620 36,019 34,533

Dollars Dollars 

Price Per Pound 0.35 0.34 0.68 0.88

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars 

Value 1/ 210 211 24,510 30,258

1/ Production multiplied by marketing year average price. U.S. value is summation of States 

value. 

Mohair: Production, Price, and Value, Arizona and United States, 2006 - 2007 

Arizona United States Item 2006 2007 2006 2007 

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 

Goats Clipped 16,000 15,000 216,000 185,000

Pounds Pounds

Average Clip per Goat 5.0 5.0 6.3 6.2

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds 

Production 80 75 1,354 1,140

Dollars Dollars 

Price per Pound 1.30 2.00 3.70 3.78

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars 

Value 1/ 104 150 5,010 4,305

1/ Production multiplied by marketing year average price. U.S. value is summation of States 

value. 
United States Department of Agriculture 

NASS – Arizona Field Office 

230 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 303 

Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706 

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

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

Penalty For Private Use $300 

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 

www.nass.usda.gov/

Farms and Land in Farms Decline Slightly in 2007 

The number of farms in the United States in 2007 is estimated at 2.08 

million, 0.6 percent fewer than in 2006. Total land in farms, at 930.9 

million acres, decreased 1.5 million acres, or 0.16 percent, from 2006. 

The average farm size was 449 acres during 2007, an increase of three 

acres from the previous year. The decline in the number of farms and 

land in farms reflects a continuing consolidation in farming operations 

and diversion of agricultural land to nonagricultural uses. 

Farm numbers and land in farms are broken down into five economic 

sales classes. Farms and ranches are classified into these "sales classes" 

by summing their sales of agricultural products and government program 

payments. Sales class breaks occur at $10,000, $100,000, $250,000, and 

$500,000. 

Farm numbers declined in the $1,000 - $9,999 and the $10,000 - $99,999 

sales classes. Farm numbers rose slightly in the three largest sales 

classes. The changes within the sales classes were a result of operations 

moving to larger sales classes by consolidation or expansion and rising 

incomes as result of strong commodity prices. Because of rising 

incomes, many farms and ranches near the top of their sales class in 2006 

moved into the next higher sales class in 2007 without adding land or 

otherwise expanding their operations. 

The largest percentage changes from 2006 occurred in the smallest and 

largest sales classes. Farm numbers declined 1.5 percent, to 1.14 million 

farms, in the $1,000 - $9,999 sales class. Meanwhile, farm numbers 

increased 4.4 percent, to 84,970 farms, in the $500,000 and over sales 

class. The number of farms with less than $100,000 in sales fell 1.2 

percent from 2006 while the number of farms with $100,000 or more in 

sales rose 2.2 percent. 

Land in farms also shifted from lower sales classes to higher sales 

classes. In the $1,000 - $9,999 sales class, land in farms dropped 1.6 

percent, to 112.8 million acres, while land operated by farms in the 

largest sales class, $500,000 & over in sales, increased 1.8 percent, to 

217.3 million acres. 

Over all, the average farm size increased three acres in 2007. However, 

average farm sizes declined in some of the sales classes due to smaller 

farms moving up to higher sales classes. 

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size: By Western State and United States, 2005-2007 

Western Number of Farms Land in Farms Average Farm Size 

States 2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007 

Number 1,000 Acres Acres 

AK 640 640 660 900 900 900 1,406 1,406 1,364

AZ 10,100 10,000 10,000 26,200 26,100 26,000 2,594 2,610 2,600

CA 76,500 76,000 75,000 26,400 26,300 26,200 345 346 349

CO 30,500 30,700 31,000 30,700 30,700 30,700 1,007 1,000 990

HI 5,500 5,500 5,500 1,300 1,300 1,300 236 236 236

ID 25,000 25,000 24,500 11,800 11,800 11,700 472 472 478

MT 28,000 28,100 28,300 60,100 60,100 60,000 2,146 2,139 2,120

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

NM 17,500 17,500 18,000 44,500 44,500 45,000 2,543 2,543 2,500

OR 40,000 39,300 38,300 17,100 17,100 17,000 428 435 444

UT 15,200 15,100 15,000 11,600 11,600 11,600 763 768 773

WA 34,500 34,000 33,000 15,100 15,100 15,100 438 444 458

WY 9,200 9,100 8,800 34,400 34,400 34,400 3,739 3,780 3,909

Total West 295,640 293,940 291,060 286,400 286,200 286,200 969 974 983

 

US 2,098,690 2,089,790 2,075,510 933,210 932,430 930,920 445 446 449

PRESORTED STANDARD

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USDA 

PERMIT NO. G-38