1 

Overview of U.S. Livestock, Poultry, and Aquaculture Production in 2011 and Statistics on 

Major Commodities 

Purpose 

This document gives an overview of U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture information for 

2011 and, in some cases, historical data that show trends and changes over time. 

Available Statistics 

Official statistics for U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture populations are published by the 

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

These statistics are based on the Census of Agriculture conducted every 5 years (e.g., 2002 and 

2007) and sample surveys conducted monthly, quarterly, or annually as determined by the 

particular commodity. 

The Census of Agriculture, which is a complete enumeration of the entire agricultural segment of 

the economy, is the only source of detailed, county-level data of all farms and ranches in all 50 

States selling or intending to sell agricultural products worth $1,000 or more in a year. Census 

2007 reports are available at: (http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/). 

 

The massive data-collecting, editing, and summarizing effort required to prepare the Census 

naturally results in a publication lag. Sample survey estimates and final Census reports rarely 

show exactly the same numbers. However, the ongoing sample surveys provide the most up-todate statistics between the Census years and are themselves subject to revision when current-year 

estimates are made. For these reasons, statistics in the 2010 Overview for 1 year compared to 

similar statistics published for 2010 in the 2011 Overview, may not always match. 

Number of Farms 

 

Estimates for the number of U.S. farms were based on the definition of a farm as “any 

establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would be 
2 

normally sold during the year.” In general, there were fewer farms in the western half of the 

United States; however, western farms and ranches were generally larger than those in the 

eastern half of the United States as reported by the 2007 Census of Agriculture (map 1). A higher 

percentage of land area in the Central United States was dedicated to land in farms. In 2011, 

there were 2.2 million farms, down slightly from 2010. Total land in farms was 917.0 million 

acres in 2011, which represents a decrease of 1.85 million acres from 2010. The average farm 

size was 420 acres in 2011, up 1 acre from the previous year. 

Map 1 

Relative Magnitude of Industries, by Value of Production 

The 2007 Census of Agriculture showed the Central and Eastern States had a higher value of 

livestock and poultry compared with the Western States (map 2). In recent years, the total value 

of production has been split nearly equally between crop and livestock (and poultry) production. 

In the 2007 Census of Agriculture, 51.7 percent of total value of production came from livestock 

and poultry. The coastal areas and North Central portions of the United States generally made a 

smaller livestock and poultry contribution to the total market value. These areas had heavy 

concentrations of crop, fruit, and vegetable products. 
3 

Map 2

Introduction to the Livestock, Poultry, and Aquaculture Industries 

In 2011, almost one-half of the 2.2 million farms in the United States had cattle and calves 

(922,000). (USDA defines a cattle operation as any place having one or more head of cattle on 

hand at any time during the year.) Only a small number of cattle operations (60,000) were dairies 

(milk production). The value of production for cattle and calves was roughly $45.2 billion. In 

addition, the value of milk production was about $39.7 billion, 26.0 percent higher than in 2010. 

The poultry industries were the next largest commodity in the United States, with production 

valued at around $35.6 billion. The number of operations was roughly similar for hogs and sheep 

(69,100 and 80,000, respectively) (table 1). 

Cattle and Calves (Beef and Dairy) 

The Nation’s nearly 100 million cattle and calves (beef and dairy) are dispersed widely across 

the country, with a greater concentration generally in the Central States (map 3). 
4 

Map 3

Overall, the number of cattle and calves in the United States increased from 30.1 million in 1869 

reaching a peak at 132.0 million in 1975. In the last 3 years, the Nation’s inventory of cattle and 

calves has seen a steady decline to 90.8 million on January 1, 2012. 

The number of operations with cattle (or calves) has declined steadily during the past 15 years, 

from 1.2 million in 1995 to 922,000 in 2011. The overall decline is due to the decline in number 

of beef operations. The decrease in the number of cattle operations is due primarily to the decline 

in the number of operations with fewer than 50 head of cattle (data not shown). 

In 2011, small cattle operations (1–49 head) accounted for 68.0 percent of all cattle operations 

but only 11.6 percent of the total inventory of cattle and calves. Large operations (1,000 or more 

head) accounted for just 1.2 percent of all cattle operations but accounted for 35.0 percent of the 

total U.S. inventory of cattle and calves (fig. 1, table 2). 
5 

Milk Cows—Dairy 

In the United States, milk cows are concentrated in California, Idaho, New York, and 

Pennsylvania. 

The U.S. population of milk cows has remained relatively stable over the last 10 years; however, 

the January 1, 2012, inventory of 9.2 million head was up 1 percent from the previous year. Over 

the previous decade the number of milk cows has remained rather stable, ranging from 9.0 to 

9.3 million (data not shown). In contrast, the number of operations with milk cows in 2011 

(60,000) was only 54.1 percent of the number of operations in 1999 (110,855). Large operations 

(500 or more milk cows) were a small percentage of all operations, but a large percentage of the 

total number of milk cows (fig. 2). 

0

20

40

60

80

Percent inventory

Percent operations

68.0

13.8 15.0

2.0 1.2

11.6 9.5

30.4

13.5

35.0

Figure 1: Cattle and calves: percent operations and inventory by herd size

2011 operations = 922,000

Jan. 1, 2012, inventory = 90.77 million

1–49 50–99 100–499 500–999 1,000+

Herd size
6 

Annual milk production per cow increased from 17,763 pounds in 1999 to 21,345 pounds in 

2011, a 20-percent increase. Table 3 documents dairy production for 2010 and 2011. 

Beef Cows 

Beef cows are distributed widely across the United States. In general, however, States in the 

central part of the Nation have a higher number of beef cows. 

The declining trend in the number of beef cows (29.9 million, down 3 percent from January 1, 

2011) follows the overall trend shown for the total inventory of cattle and calves. Beef cows 

accounted for 76.4 percent of the total cow inventory on January 1, 2012. 

In 2011, 734,000 operations in the United States had beef cows. The number of operations with 

beef cows has declined gradually since 1996 (1 to 2 percent per year). This decrease is most 

notable in the number of small operations (1–49 head) (data not shown). Following a common 

0

20

40

60

80

Percent inventory

Percent operations

Figure 2: Milk cows: percent operations and inventory by herd size

2011 operations = 60,000

Jan. 1, 2012, inventory = 9.23 million

1–29 30–49 50–99 100–199 500+

Herd size

200–499

32.3

1.6

24.7

11.2

16.8

4.3

13.8 11.9

6.7

12.5

5.7

58.5
7 

trend seen in other livestock commodities, the population of beef cows on large operations (100 

or more head) has increased and now accounts for 54.9 percent of total U.S. beef cow inventory 

as of January 1, 2012 (table 4). These large operations account for only 9.5 percent of all beef 

cow operations in the United States but have more than one-half the total beef cow inventory. 

Cattle on Feed 

Cattle on feed are fed a ration of grain or other concentrate in preparation for slaughter, and the 

majority are in feedlots in States with large grain supplies. Overall, 99.3 percent of cattle on feed 

are steers and heifers. 

On January 1, 2012, three States (Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas) accounted for over one-half 

(65.3 percent) of the inventory of cattle on feed in all feedlots. Large numbers of cattle on feed 

are in relatively few feedlots; 137 feedlots (0.2 percent of all feedlots) accounted for 44.5 percent 

of the total U.S. cattle-on-feed inventory (table 5). Inventory numbers in feedlots typically reach 

high points in December, January, and February and low points in August and September 

because of the seasonal availability of grazing resources and the predominance of spring-born 

calves. As a result, commercial cattle slaughter typically reaches a high point in May and June. 

Steers and heifers accounted for 78.3 percent of 2011 federally inspected cattle slaughter (data 

not shown). Of the 34.1 million head of commercially inspected cattle slaughter, 98.4 percent 

were federally inspected (table 13). 

Hogs 

Historically, hog production has been most common in the upper Midwest. On December 1, 

2011, Iowa, the largest hog-producing State, had 30.0 percent of the U.S. inventory of all hogs 

and pigs. During the past two decades, North Carolina has increased its production and is now 

the Nation’s second-largest hog-producing State, with 13.3 percent of the inventory. The practice 

of shipping pigs from production areas (e.g., North Carolina) to grower–finisher areas in the 

upper Midwest continued in 2011. 
8 

In the last 3 years, the number of hogs slaughtered commercially reached a low point in May or 

June, then increased until peaking in October or November in preparation for the holiday season 

(fig. 3). Commercial hog slaughter totaled 110.9 million head in 2011, 1 percent higher than 

2010. 

The number of operations with hogs (and pigs) declined steadily during the past decade, 

decreasing by 14.9 percent over the last 10 years (since 2001) (data not shown). The majority of 

hog operations (71.5 percent) had fewer than 100 head, but these operations accounted for only 

0.8 percent of the inventory. During the past decade, there has been a steady increase in the 

number of large operations (5,000 head or more), with the exception of a slight decline in 2003. 

Large operations, those with 5,000 head or more (4.8 percent of all operations), now maintain 

more than half (62.1 percent) of the U.S. hog inventory. 

In 2011, the United States had 69,100 hog operations with a production value of $20.1 billion 

(table 6). 

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

2011

2010

2009

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

1,000 head

Figure 3: Hogs: U.S. commercial slaughter, by month, 2009–11
9 

Sheep and Goats 

The U.S. sheep industry is located primarily in the Western and Central States. Typically, the 

Western States are characterized by large range flocks, whereas those in the Central and Eastern 

States are mostly small, fenced flocks. 

The number of sheep has declined steadily since the late 1980s (10.9 million head in 1988) with 

the exception of a brief peak in inventory in 1990 (11.4 million head); however, there were small 

increases noted on both January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2006, followed by decreases on 

January 1 of the next 4 years. Total sheep and lamb inventory on January 1, 2012, was 

5.35 million head. 

The number of operations with sheep since the late 1980s has declined gradually, from 113,640 

in 1987 to 80,000 in 2011. However, only a 1-percent decrease was shown between 2010 and 

2011. 

Over one-third of the sheep and lamb inventory (35.9 percent) is located on small operations 

(1–99 head); 93.5 percent of the 80,000 total operations had fewer than 100 head of sheep and 

lambs (table 7). Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter totaled 2.2 million head in 2011. 

Slaughter typically peaks in March or April. 

There were 2.86 million goats in the United States on January 1, 2012, which represents a 

4-percent decrease from the January 1, 2011, population. Breeding goats accounted for 

2.4 million head and there were 487,000 market goats and kids. Breeding goats were comprised 

of 1.8 million does, 179,000 bucks, and 421,000 replacement kids under 1 year old. The number 

of kids born during 2011 was estimated at 1.88 million head. The number of Angora goats 

decreased 15.1 percent, while the number of milk goats remained the same (146,000 and 360,000 

head, respectively). Meat and other goats totaled 2.4 million head, down 4.4 percent from 

January 1, 2011. 
10 

Poultry Industries 

The poultry industries are economically important to the Eastern States—especially the 

Southeastern States (map 4). The value of poultry and eggs is a high percentage of the total value 

of agricultural products sold in these States. In terms of value of production, the broiler segment 

of the poultry industries dominates other segments—eggs, turkeys, and chickens (excluding 

broilers). Broilers account for over two-thirds of the value of production (fig. 4). The quantity of 

production for each segment has increased rapidly over the past 50 years. 

Map 4 
11 

Broiler production is concentrated heavily in the Southeast, whereas layers are dispersed more 

widely over the Central and Eastern States. 

Turkey production is concentrated in the eastern half of the United States. Arkansas, North 

Carolina, and Minnesota accounted for 43.9 percent of the 249 million turkeys raised in 2011. 

The broiler and layer industries are characterized by a relatively small number of large 

companies. USDA does not provide annual estimates of the number of companies or production 

sites. The value of broiler production was 65.1 percent of the $35.6 billion poultry industries’ 

production in 2011. Egg production accounted for 20.7 percent of the total value of production 

(table 8). 

Hatchery statistics for 2011 include 9.06 billion broiler-type chickens hatched, 479 million eggtype chicks hatched, and 285 million poults hatched in turkey hatcheries. The collective capacity 

0

10

20

30

Chickens

Turkeys

Eggs

Broilers

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2003

Billion

dollars

Figure 4: U.S. value of production: broilers, eggs,

turkeys, chickens, and total, 2001–11
12 

of the 302 chicken hatcheries on January 1, 2012, was 894 million eggs, and the capacity of the 

49 turkey hatcheries was 40.1 million eggs. 

More than 99 percent of total U.S. poultry slaughter of the major species is done in federally 

inspected slaughter plants. 

In 2011, approximately 310 plants slaughtered poultry under Federal inspection. Young chickens 

were slaughtered in 36 States and young turkeys were slaughtered in 29 States. 

Slaughter of young chickens1

 accounted for 85.7 percent of the total live weight of poultry 

slaughtered in 2011. The average live weight of young chickens slaughtered has steadily 

increased over the previous decade, ranging from 4.99 pounds in 2000 to 5.80 pounds in 2011. 

Equine Industry 

Statistics on the demographics of the U.S. equine industry are sparse. Equine inventory on farms2

is available only from the Census of Agriculture (1997, 2002, and 2007). Two additional surveys 

of the equine industry were conducted by NASS in 1998; these surveys are the only nonfarm 

estimates of inventory. 

The 2007 Census of Agriculture estimated 4.03 million horses and ponies reported on 575,942 

farms and 284 thousand mules, burros, and donkeys on 746 farms (table 9). The number of farms 

with mules, burros, and donkeys was up over 200 percent from only 29,936 in 2002. There is a 

broad and even distribution of equids across the United States. 

The Census numbers do not include nonfarm equids. The only estimates of nonfarm equids are 

from 1997 and 1998. In 1997 there were an estimated 2.05 million nonfarm equids, in addition to 

the 3.14 million equids on farms, accounting for almost 40 percent of total equids. The USDA 

publishes no estimates for the number of nonfarms with equids. 

 

1

 Young chickens are commercially grown broilers, fryers, and other young, immature birds (e.g., roasters and 

capons). 

2

 For purposes of equids, a farm is defined as any operation with at least $1,000 in sales of agricultural products 

annually (the usual definition) or any operation that has at least five equids (other than commercial enterprises such 

as race tracks). 
13 

Fish and Other Aquaculture Products 

The 2007 Census of Agriculture estimated the value of aquaculture products (domestic farmraised) sold at $1.4 billion or about 1 percent of the total $153.6 billion sales for all livestock, 

poultry, and their products in the United States. Combined catfish and trout sold accounted for 

47.1 percent of the $1.4 billion total. NASS collects information on the catfish and trout 

industries through monthly catfish processing surveys, semiannual catfish production surveys, 

and an annual trout survey (table 10). Domestic catfish production in 2011 was concentrated in 

the Southern States, with Mississippi accounting for 50.8 percent of total sales. The total value of 

catfish sales for 2011 was $423.4 million, which was up 5.2 percent from 2010 (table 10). Foodsize catfish accounted for 92.3 percent of total sales. 

Domestic trout production was dispersed more widely across the United States. Idaho accounted 

for 44.8 percent of total value of fish sold, followed by North Carolina at 7.4 percent. The total 

value of all trout sales, both fish and eggs, was $85.3 million in 2011—an increase of 8.7 percent 

from 2010. 

Honey Production 

In 2011, honey production from producers with five or more colonies totaled 148.4 million 

pounds, which represents a 15.9-percent decrease from 2010 (table 11; fig. 5). Although honey 

prices increased from 161.9 cents per pound in 2010 to 172.9 cents per pound in 2011, the 

decrease in production caused a 10.2 percent decrease in the value of production to $256.5 

million. The distribution of honey production is widespread across the United States, although 

North Dakota accounted for 21.1 percent of the total production. 
14 

Miscellaneous 

The 2007 Census of Agriculture reported several miscellaneous livestock and poultry 

commodities, which are shown in table 12. 

Number of Livestock Slaughter Plants in the United States 

On January 1, 2012, there were 867 federally inspected U.S. slaughter plants. Federally inspected 

plants are those that transport meat interstate and must employ Federal inspectors to ensure 

compliance with USDA standards. There are additional plants considered federally inspected, 

called Talmedge-Aiken plants. Although USDA is responsible for inspection in these plants, 

actual Federal inspection is carried out by State employees, who ensure that Federal regulations 

are being followed. During 2011, 633 plants slaughtered cattle (table 13), and 14 of these plants 

slaughtered 55 percent of the total cattle slaughtered. Five of the 253 plants that slaughtered 

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000

220000

240000

1991 1993 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2011 1995

1,000 lb

Figure 5: U.S. honey production, 1991–2011

2009
15 

calves accounted for 54 percent of the total, and 3 of the 507 plants that slaughtered sheep or 

lambs in 2011 produced 60 percent of the total number of head slaughtered. In 2011, 419 plants 

slaughtered goats. Hogs were slaughtered at 604 plants; 12 of the largest plants accounted for 

58 percent of the total. 

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas accounted for 49.0 percent of U.S. commercial red-meat 

production in 2011. Monthly commercial red-meat production typically reaches a low point in 

February. Beef and pork dominated commercial red-meat production in 2011 (53.2 and 

46.2 percent, respectively). 

On January 1, 2012, there were 1,863 State-inspected or custom-exempt slaughter plants in the 

United States, compared with 1,908 such plants on January 1, 2011. State-inspected plants sell 

and transport exclusively intrastate. State inspectors ensure compliance with individual State 

standards as well as with Federal meat and poultry inspection statutes. Custom-exempt plants do 

not sell meat but operate on a custom slaughter basis only. The animals and meat are not 

federally inspected, but the facilities must meet local health requirements. 

 
16 

TABLE 1: Livestock, poultry, and aquaculture statistics for 2011 

Commodity 

Inventory

(1,000)

Number of 

operations1

Value of 

production 

($1,000)

All cattle 90,768.5 922,000 45,175,680

Milk cows 9,229.52 60,000 3NA

Beef cows 29,882.92 734,000 NA

Cattle on feed 14,121.4 NA

Milk from milk cows 39,735,714

Hogs and pigs 65,9314 69,100 20,120,613

Sheep and lambs (plus wool) 5,3452 80,000 704,9005

Goats 2,8622 151,000 

Poultry 6Detail NA 35,599,563

Equids 75,317 NA NA

Catfish 6Detail 7188 423,433

Trout 6Detail 2839 85,336

Honey 6Detail NA 256,509 1

Number of operations—any place having one or more head on hand on December 31 for cattle, beef cow, milk 

cow, hog and pig, sheep and lamb, and goat and kid operations. 

2

Inventory as of January 1, 2012. 

3

Not available. 

4

Inventory as of December 1, 2011. 

5

Sales of sheep and goats and their products during 2007 (2007 Census of Agriculture). 

6

Detailed breakout of inventory is shown in respective tables. 7

Inventory as of January 1, 1999. 

8

Number of operations as of January 1, 2012. 

9

Number of operations selling trout. 
17 

TABLE 2: Cattle and calves production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

All cattle and calves 92,682.4 90,768.5

All cows 39,999.2 39,112.4

Cattle on feed 14,012.9 14,121.4

Operations with cattle and calves 935,000 922,000

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)

1–49 head 67.9 (11.4) 68.0 (11.6)

50–99 head 13.8 (9.6) 13.8 (9.5)

100–499 head 15.2 (31.0) 15.0 (30.4)

500–999 head 2.0 (13.5) 2.0 (13.5)

1,000 or more head 1.1 (34.5) 1.2 (35.0)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.0)

Calf crop 35,694.8 35,313.2

Deaths—cattle (1,000 head) 1,735.9 1,787.1

Death—calves (1,000 head) 2,265.1 2,230.1

Commercial calves slaughter (1,000 head)

Federally inspected 864.2 838.8

Other 14.4 13.8

Total commercial 878.6 852.51

Commercial cattle slaughter (1,000 head)

Federally inspected 

Steers 16,596.4 16,538.6

Heifers 10,046.9 9,725.8

All cows 6,437.1 6,711.8

Bulls 621.7 578.7

Other 547.0 531.8

Total commercial 34,249.11 34,086.61

Farm cattle and calves slaughter 

(1,000 head)* 196.8 175.9

Total cattle and calves slaughter (1,000 head) 35,324.5 35,115.0*

Value of production ($1,000) 36,968,527 45,175,680

Source: USDA–NASS.
18 

*Farm slaughter includes animals slaughtered on farms primarily for home consumption. It excludes custom 

slaughter for farmers at commercial establishments but includes mobile slaughtering on farms. 1

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 
19 

TABLE 3: Milk cow and milk production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

Milk cows 9,149.6 9,229.5

Milk replacement heifers 4,568.2 4,527.0

Operations with milk cows 62,500 60,000

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)

1–29 head 32.0 (1.7) 32.3 (1.6)

30–49 head 17.2 (4.7) 16.8 (4.3)

50–99 head 25.3 (12.2) 24.7 (11.2)

100–199 head 13.8 (12.3) 13.8 (11.9)

200–499 head 6.3 (12.5) 6.7 (12.5)

500 or more head 5.4 (56.6) 5.7 (58.5)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.0)

Cows slaughtered (1,000 head), 

federally inspected 

Dairy cows 2,807.2 2,914.2

Other cows 3,629.8 3,797.6

All cows 6,437.11 6,711.8

Milk production 

Average number of milk cows during year 

(1,000 head) 9,119 9,194

Milk production per milk cow (lb) 21,148 21,345

Milk fat per milk cow (lb) 774 792

Percentage of fat 3.66 3.71

Total milk production (million lb) 192,848 196,245

Value of milk production ($1,000) 31,531,265 39,735,714

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 
20 

TABLE 4: Beef cow production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

Beef cows 30,849.6 29,882.9

Beef replacement heifers 5,138.6 5,211.6

Operations with beef cows 742,000 734,000

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)

1–49 head 79.2 (28.0) 79.4 (27.7)

50–99 head 11.1 (17.4) 11.1 (17.4)

100–499 head 8.9 (38.0) 8.7 (38.2)

500 or more head 0.8 (16.6) 0.8 (16.7)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.0)

Cows slaughtered (1,000 head), 

federally inspected 

Dairy cows 2,807.2 2,914.2

Other cows 3,629.8 3,797.6

All cows 6,437.11 6,711.8

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 
21 

TABLE 5: Cattle-on-feed production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head) for all lots 14,011.9 14,121.4

January 1 following-year inventory 

(1,000 head) for lots 1,000+ capacity 

Steers and steer calves 7,178 7,281

Heifers and heifer calves 4,259 4,496

Cows and bulls 76 84

Total 11,513 11,861

Feedlot capacity 

(head)

Number 

of feedlots 

2010 Pct.

January 1, 

2011, 

inventory

(1,000 

head) Pct.

Marketed 

(1,000 head)

2009 Pct.

<1,000 75,000 97.3 2,260.4 16.0 3,170 12.3

1,000–1,999 770 1.0 416.0 2.9 727 2.8

2,000–3,999 560 0.7 770.0 5.5 1,360 5.3

4,000–7,999 345 0.4 1,070.0 7.6 1,870 7.3

8,000–15,999 170 0.2 1,220.0 8.6 2,320 9.0

16,000–31,999 138 0.2 2,100.0 14.9 4,040 15.7

≥32,000 137 0.2 6,285.0 44.5 12,260 47.6

All feedlots 77,120 100.0 14,121.4 100.0 25,747 100.0

Source: USDA–NASS. 
22 

TABLE 6: Hog and pig production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

December 1 inventory (1,000 head)

Breeding 5,778 5,803

Market 59,147 60,128

All hogs and pigs 64,925 65,931

Operations with hogs and pigs 69,100 69,100

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)

1–99 head 70.9 (0.8) 71.5 (0.8)

100–499 head 7.5 (2.1) 7.4 (2.0)

500–999 head 4.1 (3.1) 3.5 (2.7)

1,000–1,999 head 5.3 (8.0) 4.9 (7.5)

2,000–4,999 head 7.7 (25.0) 8.0 (24.9)

≥5,000 head 4.5 (61.0) 4.8 (62.1)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.0)

Pig crop (1,000 head)

December–November* 113,685 115,215

Pigs per litter 

December–November* 9.78 9.97

Deaths (1,000 head) 8,625.2 8,557.7

Slaughter (1,000 head)

Federally inspected 

Barrows and gilts 105,982.8 106,600.3

Sows 2,965.9 3,027.0

Stags and boars 366.0 329.0

Other 945.1 903.7

Total commercial 110,259.8 110,860.0

Farm slaughter 107.2 96.8

Total slaughter 110,367.0 110,956.8

Value of production ($1,000) 16,095,066 20,120,613

Source: USDA–NASS. 

*December of the preceding year. 
23 

TABLE 7: Sheep and goat production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

January 1 following-year 

sheep inventory (1,000 head)

Breeding sheep and lambs 4,080.0 3,975.0

Replacement lambs under 1 year old 665.0 650.0

Ewes 1 year old and older 3,225.0 3,155.0

Rams 1 year old and older 190.0 170.0

Market 1,400.0 1,370.0

All sheep and lambs 5,480.0 5,345.0

Operations with sheep 81,000 80,000

Size of operation 

Percentage operations*

(percentage inventory)*

1–99 head 93.8 (35.8) 93.5 (35.9)

100–499 head 5.1 (20.1) 5.4 (21.1)

500–4,999 head 1.0 (30.6) 1.0 (31.1)

≥5,000 head 0.1 (13.5) 0.1 (11.9)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.0)

Lamb crop (1,000 head) 3,570.0 3,510.0

Deaths—sheep (1,000 head) 230.0 240.0

Deaths—lambs (1,000 head) 370.0 380.0

Slaughter (1,000 head) 

Federally inspected 

Mature sheep 156.4 140.7

Lambs 2,104.8 1,859.5

Other 196.4 164.1

Total commercial 2,457.51 2,164.3

Farm slaughter 95.3 93.2

Total slaughter 2,552.8 2,257.5

Wool production 

Sheep shorn (1,000 head) 4,180 4,030

Shorn wool production (1,000 lb) 30,370 29,290

Value of wool production ($1,000) 35,018 48,925 1

Sum may not equal reported total. 

 
24 

2010 2011

January 1 following-year goat 

inventory (1,000 head)

Does, 1 year old and older 

Angora 118 102

Milk 232 233

Meat and other 1,489 1,440

All 1,839 1,775

Bucks 

Angora 9 8

Milk 23 23

Meat and other 153 148

All 185 179

All 

Angora 172 146

Milk 360 360

Meat and other 2,464 2,356

All goats 2,996 2,862

Operations with goats 

Angora 6,000 5,500

Milk 31,000 31,000

Meat and other 128,000 124,000

All 152,000 151,000

Kid crop 

Angora 80 81

Milk 265 267

Meat and other 1,566 1,531

All 1,911 1,879

Source: USDA–NASS. 

*End-of-year survey for breeding sheep (inventory). 
25 

TABLE 8: Poultry production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

December 1 total layers (1,000 head) 341,884 338,472

Eggs per layer 269 271

Total egg production (million eggs) 91,482 91,855

Number of broilers produced (1,000 head) 8,623,600 8,607,600

Number of turkeys raised (1,000 head) 244,188 248,500

Number slaughtered (1,000 head)

Chickens—young 8,649,341 8,537,060

Chickens—mature 140,943 146,007

Chickens—total 8,790,284 8,683,067

Turkeys—young 241,183 245,450

Turkeys—old 1,436 1,394

Turkeys—total 242,619 246,844

Ducks 23,627 24,472

Value of production ($1,000)

Broilers 23,691,553 23,161,274

Eggs 6,534,699 7,365,303

Turkeys 4,373,866 4,991,732

Chickens (value of sales) 73,107 81,254

Total 34,673,225 35,599,563

Source: USDA–NASS. 
26 

TABLE 9: Equine inventory, 1997, 2002, and 2007 

1997* 2002 2007

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

All equids on farms 3,143 3,749 4,313

Horses and ponies 3,020 3,644 4,029

Mules, burros, and donkeys 123 105 284

Number farms 

With horses and ponies 490,517 542,223 575,942

With mules, burros, and donkeys 44,096 29,936 99,746

*Two surveys released by USDA–NASS on March 2, 1999, estimated an additional 2,050,000 equids on nonfarms 

in 1997, for a total of 5,193,000 equids. 

Source: USDA–NASS, 2002 and 2007 Census of Agriculture. 
27 

TABLE 10: Catfish and trout production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

Catfish 

Number of fish on January 1, 

following year (1,000) 

Foodsize 175,902 181,310

Stockers 380,660 463,490

Fingerlings 568,990 451,100

Broodfish 495 562

Number of operations on January 1, 

following year 908 718

Sales ($1,000)

Foodsize 375,078 390,977

Stockers 13,848 17,104

Fingerlings 13,325 14,552

Broodfish 333 800

Total sales 402,584 423,433

Trout 

Number of fish sold (1,000) 

≥12 inches 38,700 38,415

6–12 inches 5,265 5,615

1–6 inches 8,780 4,975

Sales ($1,000)

≥12 inches 63,187 69,467

6–12 inches 6,339 6,110

1–6 inches 1,917 1,031

Total sales 71,443 76,608

Eggs sold 

Number of eggs (1,000) 383,625 463,666

Total value of sales ($1,000) 7,086 8,728

Total value of fish sold plus 

value of eggs sold ($1,000) 78,529 85,336

Number of operations selling trout 320 283

Number of operations selling or 

distributing trout,1 or both 814 754

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

Trout distributed for restoration, conservation, or recreational purposes.
28 

TABLE 11: Honey* production, 2010 and 2011 

2010 2011

Honey-producing colonies (1,000) 2,692 2,491

Yield per colony (lb) 65.6 59.6

Production (1,000 lb) 176,462 148,357

Stocks on December 15 (1,000 lb) 45,018 36,761

Value of production ($1,000) 285,692 256,509

Source: USDA–NASS. 

*For producers with five or more colonies. 
29 

TABLE 12: Production data on miscellaneous livestock, 2007 

Commodity 

Number of 

farms Inventory Number sold

Mules, burros, donkeys 99,746 283,806 32,467

Mink 290 1,507,719 2,811,470

Rabbits 27,137 616,129 979,563

Ducks 31,391 3,984,982 27,321,288

Geese 18,869 177,812 161,133

Pigeons 5,369 531,489 1,294,163

Pheasants 5,313 3,773,593 10,876,586

Quail 3,983 10,611,067 39,968,045

Emus 3,621 28,443 6,540

Ostriches 714 11,188 5,697

Bison 4,499 198,234 62,890

Deer 5,654 269,537 44,210

Elk 1,917 68,251 13,049

Alpacas 8,708 121,904 13,164

Llamas 26,060 122,680 12,704

Source: USDA–NASS 2007 Census of Agriculture. 
30 

TABLE 13: Slaughter statistics, 2011 

Commodity 

Federally 

inspected 

plants (no.)

Slaughter in 

federally inspected 

plants (1,000 head)*

Slaughter in Stateinspected or 

custom-exempt 

plants (1,000 head)

Cattle 633 33,554.8 531.8

Calves 253 838.8 13.8

Hogs 604 109,956.3 903.7

Sheep and lambs 507 2,000.2 164.1

Goats 419 589.1 184.6

Bison 111 44.2 9.5

Source: USDA–NASS Livestock Slaughter 2011 Summary, April 2012. 

*Includes data for the calendar year.