January 1 Cattle Inventory Up 1 Percent

All cattle and calves in the United States as of

January 1, 2005, totaled 95.8 million head, 1 percent

above the 94.9 million on January 1, 2004. All cows

and heifers that have calved, at 42.1 million, were up

1 percent from the 41.9 million on January 1, 2004.

Beef cows, at 33.06 million, were up 1 percent from

January 1, 2004. Milk cows, at 9.01 million, were up

slightly from January 1, 2004. Other class estimates on

January 1, 2005, and the change from January 1,

2004, are as follows: All heifers 500 pounds and over,

19.7 million, up 2 percent. Beef replacement heifers,

5.75 million, up 4 percent. Milk replacement heifers,

4.13 million, up 3 percent. Other heifers, 9.79 million,

down slightly. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over,

16.5 million, up 1 percent. Bulls weighing 500 pounds

and over, 2.22 million, up 1 percent. Calves under 500

pounds, 15.4 million, up 1 percent. Cattle and calves

on feed for slaughter in all feedlots, 13.7 million, down

slightly. The combined total of calves under 500

pounds, and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds

outside of feedlots was 27.9 million, up 2 percent. 

Calf Crop Down 1 Percent

The 2004 calf crop was estimated at 37.6 million head,

down 1 percent from 2003. Calves born during the first

half of the year are estimated at 27.4 million, down 1

percent from 2003. 

U.S. Cattle Operations Down 2 Percent

The number of operations with cattle totaled 989,460

during 2004, down 2 percent from 2003 and 5 percent

below 2002. Beef cow operations in 2004 were down

2 percent from 2003 and 4 percent below 2002. Milk

cow operations were 6 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, 2003,

January 1, 2004, and July 1, 2004, 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, 2004, were

revised upward slightly based on the relationship of

new survey information to the prior surveys. 

Cattle and Calves Inventory: January 1, 2004 - 2005

Class Arizona United States

2004 2005 2004 2005

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Cattle and Calves 860.0 910.0 94,888.0 95,848.0

 Cows that have calved 330.0 340.0 41,850.8 42,060.4

 Beef Cows that have calved 175.0 175.0 32,861.3 33,055.4

 Milk Cows that have calved 155.0 165.0 8,989.5 9,005.0

Heifers 500 pounds and over 90.0 92.0 19,344.5 19,672.6

 Beef Cow replacement 33.0 28.0 5,518.3 5,745.9

 Milk Cow replacement 37.0 42.0 4,020.0 4,133.3

 Other 20.0 22.0 9,806.2 9,793.4

Steers 500 pounds and over 260.0 330.0 16,277.3 16,510.8

Bulls 500 pounds and over 22.0 23.0 2,205.9 2,219.3

Calves under 500 pounds 158.0 125.0 15,209.5 15,384.9

Cattle and Calves on feed 1/ 293.0 335.0 13,812.9 13,748.7

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 2/ 840 1,020 818 916

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 722,400 928,200 77,594,700 87,820,795

2003 2004 2003 2004

Operations Number Number

Cattle 2,800 2,700 1,013,570 989,460

Beef Cows 2,000 1,900 792,050 774,630

Milk Cows 240 230 86,360 81,440

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Calf Crop 270.0 275.0 37,902.8 37,625.4

1/ Total cattle on feed included in other classes.

2/ 2004 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, 230 N First Ave., Suite 303, Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1706. Releases are also

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

Steven Manheimer 

Director

Dave DeWalt 

Deputy Director

Agricultural Statisticians:

Maria Bautista

Clare Jervis

Curt Stock

Tenopra Shepphard

Dianne Matta

ARIZONA

ANNUAL

LIVESTOCK

Released March 15, 2005, by the Arizona Agricultural Statistics Service and University of Arizona, College of Agriculture, 230 N First Avenue, Suite 303, Phoenix, Arizona

85003-1706, (602) 280-8850, Fax: (602) 280-8897, www.nass.usda.gov/az/
Pork Production Sets Record High In 2004

Red meat production for the United States totaled 45.6 billion pounds in

2004, 2 percent below last year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork,

and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants

totaled 45.4 billion pounds. On farm production totaled 136 million

pounds. Beef production, at 24.7 billion pounds, was 6 percent below

the previous year. Veal production totaled 176 million pounds, down 13

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

20.5 billion pounds, was 3 percent above last year, setting a new record

high. Lamb and mutton production totaled 199 million pounds, falling 3

percent below the previous record low set a year ago. 

There were 825 slaughtering plants under federal inspection on January

1, 2005 compared with 855 last year. Of these, 689 slaughtered at least

one head of cattle during 2004 with 13 slaughtering almost 52 percent

of the total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 664 plants, with 13

accounting for slightly over 58 percent of the total. Likewise, 13 of the

234 plants that slaughtered calves accounted for 83 percent of the total

and 4 of the 500 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs in 2004

comprised about 60 percent of the total head. 

Commercial Red Meat Production: 2002 - 2004 1/

Class

January-December 2/

2002 2003 2004

Million Pounds

Arizona

Total Red Meat 449.0 424.7 353.9

United States

Beef 27,091 26,238 24,547

Veal 196 192 167

Pork 19,664 19,946 20,511

Lamb and Mutton 218 200 194

Total Red Meat 47,169 46,576 45,148

1/ Excludes slaughter on farms.

2/ Based on packers’ dressed weights.

U.S. Hog Inventory Up Slightly 

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2004 was 60.5

million head. This was up slightly from December 1, 2003, but down 1

percent from September 1, 2004. 

Breeding inventory, at 5.97 million head, was down 1 percent from

December 1, 2003, but up slightly from last quarter. Market hog

inventory, at 54.5 million head, was up slightly from last year, but 2

percent below last quarter. 

The September-November 2004 U.S. pig crop, at 25.6 million head, was

up slightly from 2003 and up 2 percent from 2002. Sows farrowing

during this period totaled 2.85 million head, down slightly from last year.

The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the

breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 8.96 for the

September-November period, compared to 8.93 last year. Pigs saved

per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.50 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 2.86 million sows farrow during the

December 2004-February 2005 quarter, 1 percent above the actual

farrows during the same period in 2004, and 3 percent above 2003.

Intended farrowings for March-May 2005, at 2.87 million sows, are down

slightly from the same period in 2004, and down 1 percent from the

same period in 2003. 

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, up from 35 percent last year.

** Revisions **

All inventory and pig crop estimates for March 2003 through September

2004 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss

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

review, small revisions, not exceeding one-half of one percent were

made to the June 2004 total inventory, March-May 2004 pig crop,

December-February 2004 pig crop, September-November 2003 pig

crop, June-August 2003 pig crop and the September 2003 total

inventory. Adjustments of less than one-tenth of one percent were made

to the remaining quarters. 

Hogs and Pigs Inventory: December 1, 2003 - 2004

Item Arizona United States

2003 2004 2003 2004

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Hogs and Pigs 127 136 60,444 60,501

 Breeding 16 16 6,009 5,969

 Market 111 120 54,434 54,531

Market Hogs and Pigs

 by Weight Groups

 Under 60 Lbs 32 33 19,778 19,636

 60-119 Lbs 27 29 13,238 13,439

 120-179 Lbs 26 29 11,109 11,286

 180 Lbs and over 26 29 10,311 10,171

Farrowing Dec 1/ 2/

 Sows farrowing 30 32 11,429 11,445

 Pigs per litter 8.33 9.34 8.88 8.94

 Pig Crop 250 299 101,490 102,305

Farrowings March - May

 Sows farrowing 2,886 2,870

 Pigs per litter 8.88 8.93

 Pig Crop 25,629 25,633

Farrowings June - Aug

 Sows farrowing 2,918 2,888

 Pigs per litter 8.90 9.01

 Pig Crop 25,974 26,010

Farrowings Sept - Nov

 Sows farrowing 2,856 2,852

 Pigs per litter 8.93 8.96

 Pig crop 25,488 25,558

Number Number

Operations with Hogs

 and Pigs 180 180 73,720 69,420

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 3/ 72 110 67 102

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 9,144 14,960 4,024,949 6,163,286

1/ December 1, preceding year. 

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

3/ 2003 revised.

United States Honey Production Up 1 Percent

Honey production in 2004 from producers with five or more colonies totaled

184 million pounds, up 1 percent from 2003. There were 2.56 million colonies

producing honey in 2004, down 2 percent from 2003. Yield per colony

averaged 71.8 pounds, up 3 percent from the 69.9 pounds in 2003. 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 61.2 million pounds on December 15, 2004, up

50 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude stocks held

under the commodity loan program.

Honey Prices Down 22 Percent

Honey prices decreased during 2004 to 108.5 cents, down 22 percent from

138.7 cents in 2003. Prices are based on retail sales by produces 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 2004 were lower than

the previous year for all color classes except the All Other Honey, Area

Specialties class. Honey prices for 2003 crop honey reflect honey sold in

2003 and 2004.

Honey Production: 2003 - 2004

Item Arizona United States

2003 2004 2003 2004

Number of Honey

Producing Colonies

(1,000 Colonies) 35 32 2,599 2,556

Yield per Colony

(Pounds) 72 55 70.0 71.8

Production 

(1,000 Pounds) 2,520 1,760 181,727 183,582

Stocks Dec. 15

(1,000 Pounds) 983 774 40,785 61,222

Average Price per Pound

(Cents) 134 115 138.7 108.5

Value of Production

(1,000 Dollars) 3,377 2,024 253,106 201,790
Total Sheep and Lamb Inventory Up Slightly 

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on

January 1, 2005, totaled 6.14 million head, up slightly

from 2004, but 3 percent below two years ago. The

inventory has leveled off and is showing a slight

increase for the first time since 1990. 

Breeding sheep inventory increased to 4.53 million

head on January 1, 2005, up 1 percent from 4.50

million head on January 1, 2004. Ewes one year old

and older, at 3.57 million head, were 1 percent below

last year. 

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2005, totaled

1.60 million head, down slightly from January 1, 2004.

Market lambs comprised 95 percent of the total

marketings. Twenty-six percent were lambs under 65

pounds, 13 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 24 percent

were 85 - 105 pounds, 32 percent were over 105

pounds, and 5 percent were market sheep. 

The 2004 lamb crop of 4.10 million head, a record

low, was down 1 percent from 2003. The 2004

lambing rate was 113 lambs per 100 ewes one year

old and older on January 1, 2004, up 3 percent from

2003.

The number of operations with sheep totaled 67,160

during 2004, down 1 percent from both 2003 and

2002. 

First Annual Goat Survey

All goat inventory in the United States on January 1,

2005, totaled 2.5 million head. Breeding goat

inventory totaled 2.1 million head and market goats

totaled 0.4 million head. On January 1, 2005, meat

and all other goats totaled 1.97 million head, milk

goats totaled 283,500 head and angora goats totaled

274,000 head. The 2004 kid crop was 1.67 million

head for all goats. 

All Sheep and Lambs Inventory: January 1, 2004 - 2005

Class Arizona United States

2004 2005 2004 2005

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

All Sheep and Lambs 114.0 100.0 6,105.0 6,135.0

Breeding Sheep and Lambs 57.0 60.0 4,499.0 4,533.0

 Ewes 48.0 50.0 3,609.5 3,572.5

 Rams 3.0 3.0 188.0 190.0

 Replacement Lambs 6.0 7.0 701.5 770.5

Market Sheep and Lambs 57.0 40.0 1,606.0 1,602.0

 Sheep 2.0 2.0 65.6 74.1

 Lambs 55.0 38.0 1,540.4 1,527.9

 under 65 Pounds 11.0 15.0 431.5 413.2

 65 to 84 Pounds 15.0 6.0 255.9 214.7

 85 to 105 Pounds 16.0 9.0 366.8 381.9

 over 105 Pounds 13.0 8.0 486.2 518.1

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 121 135 119 130

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 13,794 13,500 723,785 799,288

2003 2004 2003 2004

Number Number

Operations with Sheep and Lambs 270 260 67,720 67,160

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Lamb Crop 34.0 40.0 4,140.0 4,096.0

Angora Goats Inventory: January 1, 2004 - 2005

Item Arizona United States

2004 2005 2004 2005

1,000 Head 1,000 Head

Angora Goats 30 23 260 274

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 65.00 70.00 63.30 67.20

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 1,950 1,610 16,460 16,330

 

U.S. Egg Production Up 2 Percent

U.S. egg production during the year ending

November 30, 2004 totaled a record high 89.1 billion

eggs, up 2 percent from 2003. Table egg production,

at 76.2 billion eggs, was up 2 percent from the

previous year. Hatching egg production, at 12.9

billion eggs, up slightly from 2003.

U.S. layer numbers during 2004 averaged 342

million, up 1 percent from the year earlier. The annual

average production per layer on hand in 2004 was

260 eggs, up slightly from the 2003 average of 259.

The U.S. total number of chickens on hand on

December 1, 2004 (excluding commercial broilers)

was 454 million birds, up 1 percent from last year.

The U.S. total value of all chickens on December 1,

2004 was $1.12 billion, up slightly from December 1,

2003. The average value decreased from $2.48 per

bird on December 1, 2003, to $2.47 per bird on

December 1, 2004.

Chicken and Egg Production: December 1, 2003 - 2004

Item Other States 1/ United States

2003 2004 2003 2004

1,000 Birds 1,000 Birds

All Chickens 8,068 7,584 449,764 454,165

Total Layers 6,206 5,899 340,979 344,278

 Layers 1 year old and older 3,369 2/ 169,263 2/

 Layers 20 weeks old but less than 1 year 2,837 2/ 171,716 2/

Total Pullets 1,849 1,671 100,346 101,624

 Pullets 13 weeks old & older but less

 than 20 weeks 403 2/ 41,955 2/

 Pullet Chicks and pullets under 13

 weeks of age 1,446 2/ 58,391 2/

Other Chickens 13 14 8,439 8,263

Dollars Dollars

Value per Head 2.08 2.25 2.48 2.47

1,000 Dollars 1,000 Dollars

Total Value 16,780 17,038 1,116,273 1,120,663

1,000 Birds 1,000 Birds

Annual Average Number of All Layers 6,102 6,061 338,393 342,279

Number Number

Average Eggs per Layer 272 273 259 260

Million Eggs Million Eggs

Total Egg Production 1,660 1,657 87,473 89,131

1/ AK, AZ, DE, KS, ND, NM, NV, and RI combined to avoid disclosing individual operations..

2/ Not available due to program change.
United States Department of Agriculture

Arizona Agricultural Statistics Service

230 N First Ave., Suite 303

Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1706

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Farms and Land in Farms Decline Slightly in 2004

The number of farms in the United States in 2004 is estimated at 2.11

million, 0.6 percent fewer than in 2003. Total land in farms, at 936.6

million acres, decreased 2.25 million acres, or 0.2 percent, from 2003.

The average farm size was 443 acres in 2004, an increase of 2 acres

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

farms reflects a continuing consolidation in farming operations and

transfers of agricultural land to competing uses. 

Farm numbers declined in the 2 smallest economic sales classes and

rose in the 3 largest economic sales classes. Part of the reduction in the

small economic sales classes was due to normal attrition, mostly

retirements. In addition, some operations transferred to larger economic

sales classes by enterprise expansion. However, the majority of the

changes in the economic sales classes were due to rising incomes. Many

operations near the top of their economic sales class in 2003, moved into

the next larger economic sales class in 2004. 

As a result, the largest percent changes from 2003 occurred in the

smallest and largest economic sales classes. Farm numbers declined 1.6

percent, to 1.18 million farms, in the $1,000-$9,999 economic sales class.

Meanwhile, farm numbers increased 4.7 percent, to 76,740 farms, in the

$500,000 or more economic sales class. The number of farms with at

least $10,000 in sales rose 0.6 percent from 2003 and the number of

farms with at least $100,000 in sales rose 2.0 percent. 

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

economic sales classes. In the $1,000-$9,999 economic sales class, land

in farms dropped 3.1 percent, to 120.8 million acres. Land operated by

farms in the largest economic sales class, $500,000 or more in sales,

increased 3.1 percent, to 203.8 million acres. 

The average farm size decreased in each economic sales class even

though the National average increased. The largest operations in each

economic sales class for 2003 became the smallest operations in the next

higher economic sales class for 2004. The combination of losing the

larger operations and gaining smaller operations drove the average farm

size down in each economic sales class. 

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 2002-2004

Western

States

Number of Farms Land in Farms Average Size Farm

2002 2003 2004 2002 2003 2004 2002 2003 2004

Number 1,000 Acres Acres

AK 610 610 620 900 900 900 1,475 1,475 1,452

AZ 1/ 10,300 10,300 10,200 26,600 26,500 26,400 2,583 2,573 2,588

CA 79,700 78,500 77,000 27,600 27,100 26,700 346 345 347

CO 31,400 31,400 30,900 31,100 31,000 30,900 990 987 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 27,900 28,000 28,000 59,800 60,100 60,100 2,143 2,146 2,146

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

NM 1/ 17,700 17,500 17,500 44,800 44,700 44,700 2,531 2,554 2,554

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

UT 15,300 15,300 15,300 11,600 11,600 11,600 758 758 758

WA 36,000 35,500 35,000 15,350 15,300 15,200 426 431 434

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

Total West 301,610 299,810 297,220 288,850 288,240 287,540 958 961 967

US 2,135,360 2,126,860 2,113,470 940,300 938,650 936,600 440 441 443

1/ Includes accounting for individual farms on reservation land.