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January 1 Cattle Inventory Up Slightly

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2007, 

totaled 97.0 million head, slightly above the 96.7 million on 

January 1, 2006. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.0 

million, were down slightly from the 42.1 million on January 1, 

2006. Beef cows, at 32.9 million, were down slightly from 

January 1, 2006. Milk cows, at 9.13 million, were up 1 percent 

from January 1, 2006. Other class estimates on January 1, 

2007, and the change from January 1, 2006, are as follows: All 

heifers 500 pounds and over, 20.1 million, up 1 percent. Beef 

replacement heifers, 5.88 million, down slightly. Milk 

replacement heifers, 4.31 million, up 1 percent. Other heifers, 

9.90 million, up 1 percent. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 

17.2 million, up 2 percent. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 

2.22 million, down 2 percent. Calves under 500 pounds, 15.5 

million, down slightly. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in 

all feedlots, 14.3 million, up 1 percent. The combined total of 

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

pounds outside of feedlots was 28.3 million, up 1 percent.

Calf Crop Down Slightly

The 2006 calf crop was estimated at 37.6 million head, down 

slightly from 2005. Calves born during the first half of the year 

are estimated at 27.4 million, up slightly from 2005.

U.S. Cattle Operations Down 1 Percent

The number of operations with cattle totaled 971,400 during 

2006, down 1 percent from 2005 and 2 percent below 2004. Beef 

cow operations in 2006 were down 1 percent from 2005 and 2 

percent below 2004. Milk cow operations were 4 percent below 

last year and 8 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, 2005, January 1,

2006, and July 1, 2006, 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 all cattle,

heifers, and steers. Revisions of one percent or less were made to

cows, calves, 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, 2006. 

Cattle and Calves Inventory: January 1, 2006 – 2007

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

Class Arizona United States

2006 2007 2006 2007

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Cattle and Calves 940 940 96,702 97,003

 Cows that have calved 355 350 42,056 42,023

 Beef Cows that have calved 185 175 32,994 32,894

 Milk Cows that have calved 170 175 9,063 9,129

Heifers 500 pounds and over 93 100 19,984 20,086

 Beef Cow replacement 30 33 5,904 5,877

 Milk Cow replacement 44 50 4,275 4,310

 Other 19 17 9,805 9,899

Steers 500 pounds and over 340 340 16,933 17,222

Bulls 500 pounds and over 22 20 2,263 2,215

Calves under 500 pounds 130 130 15,465 15,456

Cattle on feed 334 334 14,132 14,269

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 1,090 1,010 1,009 922

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 1,024,600 949,400 97,578,515 89,451,392

2005 2006 2005 2006

Operations Number Number

Cattle and Calves 2,600 2,600 982,510 971,400

Beef Cows 1,900 1,900 770,170 762,880

Milk Cows 210 200 78,300 75,140

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Calf Crop 285 280 37,575 37,567

ARIZONA ANNUAL LIVESTOCK

2007 --- Released March 7, 2007
Pork Production Sets Record High In 2006

Total red meat production for the United States totaled 47.7 billion pounds

in 2006, 4 percent higher than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, 

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

plants totaled 47.5 billion pounds. On farm production totaled 139 million 

pounds. Beef production totaled 26.3 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the 

previous year. Veal production totaled 155 million pounds, down 6 percent 

from last year. Pork production, at 21.1 billion pounds, was 2 percent above 

the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 190 million pounds, 

down 1 percent from 2005.

There were 793 plants slaughtering under federal inspection on January 1, 

2007 compared with 806 last year. Of these, 636 plants slaughtered at least 

one head of cattle during 2006 with the 14 largest plants slaughtering 56 

percent of the total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 614 plants, with 

the 10 largest plants accounting for 47 percent of the total. Likewise, 5 of 

the 238 plants that slaughtered calves accounted for 54 percent of the total 

and 4 of the 484 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs in 2006 comprised 

68 percent of the total head.

Commercial Red Meat Production: 2004 - 2006 1/

Class January-December 2/

2004 2005 2006

Million Pounds

Arizona

Total Red Meat 353.9 360.5 386.5

United States

Beef 24,547 24,683 26,152

Veal 167 156 147

Pork 20,511 20,685 21,054

Lamb and Mutton 194 187 185

Total Red Meat 45,418 45,711 47,537

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, 2006 was 62.1 million 

head. This was up 1 percent from December 1, 2005, but down 1 percent 

from September 1, 2006. 

Breeding inventory, at 6.09 million head, was up 1 percent from last year 

and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 56.1 

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

quarter. 

The September-November 2006 pig crop, at 26.6 million head, was up 1 

percent from 2005 and up 3 percent from 2004. Sows farrowing during this 

period totaled 2.91 million head, up slightly from 2005 and up 1 percent 

from 2004. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of 

the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 9.13 for the 

September-November 2006 period, compared to 9.03 last year. Pigs saved 

per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 

hogs and pigs to 9.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.90 million sows farrow during the 

December 2006 - February 2007 quarter, up 2 percent from the actual 

farrowings during the same period in both 2006 and 2005. Intended 

farrowings for March-May 2007, at 2.93 million sows, are up 1 percent 

from 2006 and up 2 percent from 2005. 

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

5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 38 percent of the total 

U.S. hog inventory, down from 39 percent last year.

** Revisions **

All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 2005 through September 

2006 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and 

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

small adjustment of less than one-half of one percent was made to the June 

2006 inventory and September 2006 inventory, along with an adjustment of 

slightly larger than one-half of one percent to the March-May 2006 pig crop.

Hogs and Pigs Inventory: December 1, 2005 – 2006

1/ December 1, preceding year through November.

United States Honey Production Down 11 Percent

Honey production in 2006 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 

155 million pounds, down 11 percent from 2005. There were 2.39 million 

colonies producing honey in 2006, down 1 percent from 2005. Yield per 

colony averaged 64.7 pounds, down 11 percent from the 72.4 pounds in 

2005. 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. Colonies were not included if honey was not 

harvested. Producer honey stocks were 60.5 million pounds on December 

15, 2006, down 3 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers 

exclude stocks held under the commodity loan program.

Honey Prices Up 14 Percent

Honey 2006 prices increased to 104.2 cents, up 14 percent from 91.8 cents 

in 2005. 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. Honey prices for 

each color class are derived by weighting quantities sold for each marketing 

channel. Honey prices for 2006 were up from the previous year for all color

class totals.

Honey Production: 2005 – 2006

Item Arizona United States

2005 2006 2005 2006

Number of Honey

Producing Colonies 1/

(1,000 Colonies) 36 30 2,413 2,392

Yield per Colony

(Pounds) 50 65 72.4 64.7

Production

(1,000 Pounds) 1,800 1,950 174,818 154,846

Stocks Dec. 15 2/

(1,000 Pounds) 720 839 62,478 60,528

Average Price per Pound

(Cents) 105 139 91.8 104.2

Value of Production

(1,000 Dollars) 1,890 2,711 160,428 161,314

1/ For producers with 5 or more colonies.

2/ Stocks held by producers.

Item Arizona United States

2005 2006 2005 2006

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Hogs and Pigs 142 148 61,449 62,149

 Breeding 15 16 6,011 6,088

 Market 127 132 55,438 56,061

Market Hogs and Pigs

by Weight Groups

 Under 60 Lbs 46 49 20,055 20,334

 60-119 Lbs 27 28 13,524 13,603

 120-179 Lbs 27 27 11,293 11,544

 180 Lbs and over 27 28 10,567 10,580

Annual Farrowings 1/

 Sows farrowing 30 31 11,535 11,590

 Pigs per litter 9.20 9.00 9.01 9.10

 Pig Crop 276.0 279.0 103,965 105,423

Number Number

Operations with Hogs

and Pigs 180 150 67,280 65,540

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 100 94 95 90

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 14,200 13,912 5,824,928 5,576,639
Total Sheep and Lamb Inventory Down 1 Percent

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 

1, 2007, totaled 6.19 million head, down 1 percent from 2006, 

but still 1 percent above 2005. After two consecutive year to 

year increases inventory growth was hampered by extremely 

dry weather in the Southwestern part of the United States. 

Breeding sheep inventory decreased to 4.62 million head on 

January 1, 2007, down slightly from 4.64 million head on 

January 1, 2006. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.71 million 

head, were 1 percent above last year. 

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2007, totaled 1.57 

million head, down 2 percent from January 1, 2006. Market 

lambs comprised 94 percent of the total marketings. Twentyfive percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 14 percent were 65 -

84 pounds, 25 percent were 85 - 105 pounds, and 36 percent 

were over 105 pounds. Market sheep comprised the remaining 

6 percent of total marketings. 

The 2006 lamb crop of 4.09 million head, was down 1 percent 

from 2005. The 2006 lambing rate was 112 lambs per 100 

ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2006, down 3 

percent from 2005. 

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2006 was 

36.0 million pounds, down 3 percent from 2005. Sheep and 

lambs shorn totaled 4.85 million head, down 4 percent from 

2005. The average price paid for wool sold in 2006 was $0.68 

per pound for a total value of 24.4 million dollars, down 7 

percent from 26.3 million dollars in 2005.

The number of operations with sheep totaled 69,090 during 

2006, up 1 percent from 2005 and up 2 percent from 2004. Of 

all sheep operations that include breeding sheep, 90.8 percent 

were comprised of 1-99 head, 7.6 percent had 100-499 head, 

and the remaining 1.6 percent were operations with 500 head 

or more. Operations with 1-99 head account for 28.7 percent 

of the inventory, 100-499 head account for 24.0 percent of the 

inventory, and 500+ head account for 47.3 percent of the 

inventory.

Total Goat and Kid Inventory Up 3 Percent

All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2007, 

totaled 2.93 million head, up 3 percent from 2006. Breeding 

goat inventory totaled 2.44 million head up 3 percent from 

2006. All market goats and kids totaled 494,000 head, up 4 

percent from a year ago. On January 1, 2007 meat and all 

other goats totaled 2.40 million head, up 5 percent from 2006. 

Milk goat inventory increased 2 percent to 296,000 head while 

angora goats were down 8 percent totaling 238,000 head. The 

2006 kid crop totaled 1.92 million head for all goats, up 4 

percent from 2005.

U.S. Chicken and Egg Production Highlights

U.S. Average Number of Layers Up 1 Percent: Layer numbers 

during 2006 averaged 346 million, up 1 percent from the year 

earlier. The annual average production per layer on hand in 

2006 was 263 eggs, up slightly from the 2005 average of 262.

U.S. Egg Production Up 1 Percent: Egg production during the 

year ending November 30, 2006 totaled a record high 90.9 

billion eggs, up 1 percent from 2005. Table egg production, at 

78.0 billion eggs, was up 1 percent from the previous year. 

Hatching egg production, at 12.9 billion eggs, was down 2 

percent from 2005.

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

chickens on hand on December 1, 2006 (excluding commercial 

broilers) was 453 million birds, down slightly from last year.

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

1, 2006 was $1.18 billion, up 3 percent from December 1, 

2005. The average value increased from $2.52 per bird on 

December 1, 2005, to $2.60 per bird on December 1, 2006.

All Sheep and Lambs Inventory: January 1, 2006 - 2007

Class Arizona United States

2006 2007 2006 2007

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Sheep and Lambs 105.0 110.0 6,230.0 6,185.0

Breeding Sheep and Lambs 70.0 72.0 4,640.0 4,620.0

 Ewes 57.0 58.0 3,661.0 3,706.0

 Rams 4.0 4.0 196.0 195.0

 Replacement Lambs 9.0 10.0 783.0 719.0

Market Sheep and Lambs 35.0 38.0 1,590.0 1,565.0

 Sheep 2.0 2.0 76.0 89.0

 Lambs 33.0 36.0 1,314.0 1,476.0

 under 65 Pounds 14.0 10.0 416.3 368.1

 65 to 84 Pounds 4.0 6.0 209.4 200.8

 85 to 105 Pounds 9.0 11.0 362.4 371.6

 over 105 Pounds 6.0 9.0 525.9 535.5

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 142 142 141 134

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 14,910 15,620 875,410 825,966

2005 2006 2005 2006

Number Number

Operations with Sheep and

 Lambs 250 230 68,330 69,090

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Lamb Crop 42.0 44.0 4,117.0 4,085.0

Goat Inventory: January 1, 2006 - 2007

Item Arizona United States

2006 2007 2006 2007

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Angora 21.0 18.0 260.0 238.0

Milk 1.6 2.0 290.0 296.0

Meat & Other 8.0 10.0 2,287.0 2,400.0

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head (Angora) 75.00 75.00 75.90 78.50

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 1,575 1,350 17,604 16,319

Wool: Production, Price, and Value, Arizona and United States, 2005 - 2006

Item Arizona United States

2005 2006 2005 2006

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Sheep Shorn 95.0 100.0 5,072.0 4,852.0

Pounds Pounds

Weight per Fleece 5.9 6.0 7.3 7.4

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds

Production 560 600 37,232 36,019

Dollars Dollars

Price Per Pound 0.30 0.35 0.71 0.78

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Value 1/ 168 210 26,272 24,414

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, 2005 - 2006

Item Arizona United States

2005 2006 2005 2006

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Goats Clipped 21.0 16.0 255.0 216.0

Pounds Pounds

Average Clip per Goat 4.8 5.0 6.1 6.3

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds

Production 100 80 1,546 1,354

Dollars Dollars

Price per Pound 1.10 1.30 2.78 3.68

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Value 1/ 110 104 4,291 4,980

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

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Farms and Land in Farms Decline Slightly in 2006

The number of farms in the United States in 2006 is estimated at 2.09 

million, 0.4 percent fewer than in 2005. Total land in farms, at 932.4 

million acres, decreased 780 thousand acres, or 0.08 percent, from 2005. 

The average farm size was 446 acres during 2006, an increase of one acre 

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 $100,000 -

$249,999 sales classes. Farm numbers rose slightly in the $10,000 -

$99,999 and the two largest sales classes. The decline in the smallest 

sales class is most likely due to normal attrition, such as retirements, and 

rising incomes. The changes within the other sales classes were a result 

of operations moving to larger sales classes by consolidation and 

expansion. Because of rising incomes, many farms and ranches near the 

top of their sales class in 2005 moved into the next higher sales class in 

2006 without adding land or otherwise expanding their operations. 

The largest percentage changes from 2005 occurred in the smallest and 

largest sales classes. Farm numbers declined 1.1 percent, to 1.15 million 

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

increased 2.4 percent, to 81,350 farms, in the $500,000 & over sales 

class. The number of farms with less than $100,000 in sales fell 0.6 

percent from 2005 and the number of farms with $100,000 or more in 

sales rose 0.7 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 3.0 

percent, to 114.7 million acres, while land operated by farms in the 

largest sales class, $500,000 & over in sales, increased 1.7 percent, to 

213.4 million acres. 

Over all, the average farm size increased 1 acre in 2006. 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, 2004-2006

Western 

States

Number of Farms Land in Farms Average Farm Size

2004 2005 2006 2004 2005 2006 2004 2005 2006

Number 1,000 Acres Acres

AK 620 640 640 900 900 900 1,452 1,406 1,406

AZ 10,200 10,100 10,000 26,400 26,200 26,100 2,588 2,594 2,610

CA 77,000 76,500 76,000 26,700 26,400 26,300 347 345 346

CO 30,900 30,500 30,700 30,900 30,700 30,700 1,000 1,007 1,000

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

ID 25,000 25,000 25,000 11,800 11,800 11,800 472 472 472

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

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

NM 17,500 17,500 17,500 44,700 44,500 44,500 2,554 2,543 2,543

OR 40,000 40,000 39,300 17,200 17,100 17,100 430 428 435

UT 15,300 15,200 15,100 11,600 11,600 11,600 758 763 768

WA 35,000 34,500 34,000 15,200 15,100 15,100 434 438 444

WY 9,200 9,200 9,100 34,440 34,400 34,400 3,743 3,739 3,780

Total West 297,220 295,640 293,940 287,500 286,400 286,200 967 969 974

US 2,112,970 2,098,690 2,089,790 936,295 933,210 932,430 443 445 446

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