1 

Overview of U.S. Livestock, Poultry, and Aquaculture Production in 2013 

Purpose 

This document is a compilation of statistics published by the National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Its purpose is to (1) give an 

overview of U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture information for 2013, (2) compare the value 

of production for these animal commodities, and (3) show changes over time. 

Available Statistics 

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

based on the Census of Agriculture conducted every 5 years (e.g., 2007 and 2012) 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 

2012 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 2012 Overview for 1 year compared to 

similar statistics published for 2012 in the 2013 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 2012 Census of Agriculture (map 1). A higher 

percentage of land area in the Central United States was dedicated to land in farms. In 2013, 

there were 2.1 million farms, down slightly from 2012. Total land in farms was 914.2 million 

acres in 2013, which represents a decrease of 0.4 million acres from 2012. The average farm size 

was 435 acres in 2013, up 2 acres from the previous year. 

Map 1 

Relative Magnitude of Industries, by Value of Production 

The 2012 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 2012 Census of Agriculture, 46.2 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 
3 

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

concentrations of crop, fruit, and vegetable products. 

Map 2

Introduction to the Livestock, Poultry, and Aquaculture Industries 

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, almost one-half of the 2.1 million farms in the 

United States had cattle and calves (913,246). (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 (64,098) were dairies (milk production). There were 128,456 operations with 

goats, 88,338 operations with sheep, and 63,246 operations with hogs and pigs. Operations with 

equids are counted only if they are farms (they must have $1,000 or more of sales of agricultural 

products), and the most recent count of those, in 2012, put the number of farms with equids at 

504,795. 
4 

The cattle industry has the highest value of production at roughly $49.5 billion. In addition, the 

value of milk production was about $40.5 billion, 8.7 percent higher than in 2012. The poultry 

industries were the next largest commodity in the United States, with production valued at 

around $44.1 billion, followed by hogs and pigs at $21.4 billion (table 1). 

Cattle and Calves (Beef and Dairy) 

The Nation’s nearly 90 million cattle and calves (beef and dairy) are dispersed widely across the 

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

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 87.7 million on January 1, 2014. 

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

from 1.2 million in 1995 to 913,246 (2012 Census of Agriculture). The overall decline is due to 
5 

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). 

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, small cattle operations (1–49 head) accounted for 

69.8 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 36.9 percent of the total U.S. inventory of cattle and calves 

(table 2). 

Milk Cows—Dairy 

On January 1, 2014, Wisconsin and California accounted for 33.1 percent of the U.S. milk cow 

inventory. 

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

previous decade the number of milk cows ranged from 9.0 million to 9.2 million (data not 

shown). In contrast, the number of operations with milk cows (64,098; 2012 Census of 

Agriculture) was only 57.8 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. 1). 
6 

Annual milk production per cow increased from 17,763 pounds in 1999 to 21,822 pounds in 

2013, a 23-percent increase. Table 3 documents dairy production for 2012 and 2013. 

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, led by Texas (3.9 million on 

January 1, 2014). Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma each had about 1.8 million beef cows. Beef 

cows accounted for 75.9 percent of the total cow inventory on January 1, 2014. 

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, 727,906 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 trend seen in other livestock commodities, the population 

0

20

40

60

80

Percent inventory

Percent operations

Figure 1. Milk cows: percent operations and inventory by size of operation*

operations = 64,098

inventory (cows and heifers that calved) = 9.76 million

1–19 20–49 50–99 100–199 500+

Size of operation

200–499

31.6

3.5

23.9

11.2

22.0

5.6

11.5 10.7

5.8

11.8

5.2

57.2

*2012 Census of Agriculture
7 

of beef cows on large operations (100 or more head) has increased and now accounts for 

53.2 percent of total U.S. beef cow inventory as of January 1, 2014 (table 4). These large 

operations account for only 8.6 percent of all beef cow operations in the United States but have 

more than one-half the total beef cow inventory (fig. 2). 

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, 99.4 percent of cattle on feed 

are steers and heifers. 

On January 1, 2014, three States (Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas) accounted for over one-half 

(64.7 percent) of the inventory of cattle on feed in all feedlots with 1,000 or more capacity. Large 

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent inventory

Percent operations

81.6

16.4

0.8

16.7

30.4

9.8 7.8

36.5

Figure 2. Beef cows: percent operations and inventory by size of operation*

operations = 727,906

inventory (cows and heifers that calved) = 29.7 million

1–49 50–99 100–499 500 or more

Size of operation

*2012 Census of Agriculture
8 

numbers of cattle on feed are in relatively few feedlots; 132 feedlots (0.2 percent of all feedlots) 

accounted for 44.9 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 78.7 percent of 2013 federally 

inspected cattle slaughter (data not shown). Of the 32.5 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, 

2013, Iowa, the largest hog-producing State, had 31.1 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 13.2 percent of the inventory. 

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 112.1 million head in 2013, 1 percent lower than 

2012. 
9 

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

decreasing by 9.0 percent over the last 10 years (since 2004) (data not shown). The majority of 

hog operations (74.8 percent) had fewer than 100 head (2012 Census of Agriculture), 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). Large operations, 

those with 5,000 head or more (4.8 percent of all operations), maintained more than two-thirds 

(67.7 percent) of the U.S. hog inventory. 

The United States had 63,246 hog operations (2012 Census of Agriculture) with a production 

value of $21.4 billion (table 6). 

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

2013

2012

2011

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

1,000 head

Figure 3. Hogs: U.S. commercial slaughter, by month, 2011–12
10 

Sheep and Goats 

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

Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming accounted for 38.6 percent of the U.S. sheep and lamb inventory 

on January 1, 2014. 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 and lambs 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), and again in 

2005 and 2006. Total sheep and lamb inventory on January 1, 2014, was 5.21 million head. The 

number of operations with sheep has declined gradually, from 113,640 in 1987 to 88,338 (2012 

Census of Agriculture). 

Nearly one-third of the sheep and lamb inventory (29.1 percent; 2012 Census of Agriculture) is 

located on small operations (1–99 head); 92.2 percent of the 88,338 total operations had fewer 

than 100 head of sheep and lambs (table 7). Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter totaled 

2.3 million head in 2013. 

There were 2.76 million goats in the United States on January 1, 2014, which represents a 

2-percent decrease from the January 1, 2013, population. The largest type, by far, were meat and 

other goats (82.4 percent). 

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 accounted for over two-thirds of the total value of production $30.7 billion; 

fig. 4). 
11 

Map 4 

0

10

20

30

Chickens

Turkeys

Eggs

Broilers

2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2005

Billion

dollars

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

turkeys, chickens, and total, 2003–13
12 

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. Indiana, Minnesota, and North Carolina accounted for 39.8 percent of the 

240.0 million turkeys raised in 2013. 

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

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

production sites. The value of broiler production was 69.6 percent of the $44.1 billion poultry 

industries’ production in 2013. Egg production accounted for 19.3 percent of the total value of 

production (table 8). 

Hatchery statistics for 2013 include 9.06 billion broiler-type chickens hatched, 510 million eggtype chicks hatched, and 269 million poults hatched in turkey hatcheries. The collective capacity 

of the 295 chicken hatcheries on January 1, 2014, was 902 million eggs, and the capacity of the 

57 turkey hatcheries was 40.5 million eggs. 

Slaughter of young chickens1

 accounted for 85.9 percent of the total live weight of poultry 

slaughtered in 2013. The average live weight of young chickens slaughtered has steadily 

increased over the previous decade, ranging from 5.00 pounds in 2000 to 5.92 pounds in 2013. 

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 (2002, 2007, and 2012). Two additional surveys 

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

estimates of inventory. 

 

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 

The 2012 Census of Agriculture estimated 3.62 million horses and ponies reported on 504,795 

farms and 292,590 mules, burros, and donkeys on 98,379 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. 

Fish and Other Aquaculture Products 

Catfish production in 2013 was concentrated in the Southern States, North Carolina, and 

California, with Mississippi accounting for 53.7 percent of total sales. Total catfish sales for 

2013 were $342.4 million, which was up 0.5 percent from 2012 (table 10). Food-size catfish 

accounted for 93.9 percent of total sales. 

Trout production was dispersed more widely across the United States. Idaho accounted for 

48.7 percent of total value of fish (12 inches or longer) sold in 2013, followed by North Carolina 

at 6.7 percent. The total value of trout sold, both fish and eggs, was $105.1 million in 2013—an 

increase of 3.4 percent from 2012. 

Honey Production 

In 2013, honey production from producers with five or more colonies totaled 149.5 million 

pounds, which represents a 5.1-percent increase from 2012 (table 11; fig. 5). U.S. honey prices 

increased from 199.2 cents per pound in 2012 to 212.1 cents per pound in 2013, which 

contributed to the increase in the value of production from $283.5 million to $317.1 million. The 

distribution of honey production is widespread across the United States, although North Dakota 

accounted for 22.2 percent of the total production in 2013. 
14 

Number of Livestock Slaughter Plants in the United States 

On January 1, 2014, there were 831 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 2013, 638 plants slaughtered cattle (table 13), and 13 of these plants 

slaughtered 55 percent of the total cattle slaughtered. Five of the 209 plants that slaughtered 

calves accounted for 62 percent of the total, and 3 of the 516 plants that slaughtered sheep or 

lambs in 2013 produced 57 percent of the total number of head slaughtered. In 2013, 434 plants 

slaughtered goats. Hogs were slaughtered at 606 plants; 12 of the largest plants accounted for 

57 percent of the total. 

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000

220000

240000

1993 1995 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2013 1997

1,000 lb

Figure 5. U.S. honey production, 1993–2013

2011
15 

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas accounted for 48.6 percent of U.S. commercial red-meat 

production in 2013. Beef and pork dominated commercial red-meat production in 2013 (52.3 and 

47.2 percent, respectively). 

On January 1, 2014, there were 1,950 State-inspected or custom-exempt slaughter plants in the 

United States, compared with 2,016 such plants on January 1, 2013. 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 2013 

Commodity 

Inventory

(1,000)

Number of 

operations1

Value of 

production 

($1,000)

All cattle 87,730.02 913,246 49,530,245

Milk cows 9,208.62 64,098 3NA

Beef cows 29,042.42 727,906 NA

Cattle on feed 12,695.32 NA

Milk from milk cows 40,477,414

Hogs and pigs 65,9404 63,246 21,408,909

Sheep and lambs (plus wool) 5,210.02 88,338 844,6885

Goats 2,7612 128,456 

Poultry 6Detail NA 44,105,649

Equids 3,9147 603,1747 NA

Catfish 6Detail 1,183 342,4058

Trout 6Detail 1,041 96,4219

Honey 6Detail NA 317,087 1

Number of operations—any place having one or more head on hand for cattle, beef cow, milk cow, hog and pig, 

sheep and lamb, and goat and kid operations (2012 Census of Agriculture). 

2

Inventory as of January 1, 2014. 

3

Not available. 

4

Inventory as of December 1, 2013. 

5

Sales of sheep and goats and their products (2012 Census of Agriculture). 

6

Detailed breakout of inventory is shown in respective tables. 7

2012 Census of Agriculture; includes mules, burros, and donkeys. 

8

Catfish is published as total sales (not value of production). 9

Total value of fish sold excluding eggs. 
17 

TABLE 2: Cattle and calves production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

All cattle and calves 89,299.6 87,730.0

All cows 38,515.2 38,251.0

Cattle on feed 13,363.7 12,695.3

Operations with cattle and calves 915,000 913,2461

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)1

1–49 head 68.2 (11.5) 69.8 (11.6)

50–99 head 13.7 (9.5) 13.0 (9.1)

100–499 head 15.0 (30.2) 14.2 (29.2)

500–999 head 2.0 (13.6) 1.9 (13.2)

1,000 or more head 1.2 (35.2) 1.2 (36.9)

Total 100.01 (100.0) 100.01 (100.0)

Calf crop 34,279.0 33,930.0

Deaths—cattle (1,000 head) 1,751.2 1,729.9

Death—calves (1,000 head) 2,124.9 2,140.2

Commercial calves slaughter (1,000 head)

Federally inspected 759.7 751.0

Other 12.4 10.9

Total commercial 772.1 762.03

Commercial cattle slaughter (1,000 head)

Federally inspected 

Steers 16,159.5 16,003.4

Heifers 9,269.0 9,131.5

All cows 6,445.6 6,245.9

Bulls 551.3 557.1

Other 525.3 515.3

Total commercial 32,950.83 32,462.33

Farm cattle and calves slaughter 

(1,000 head)2 149.4 130.3

Total cattle and calves slaughter (1,000 head) 33,872.3 33,354.6

Value of production ($1,000) 48,223,153 49,530,245

Source: USDA–NASS.
18 

1

2012 Census of Agriculture. 

2

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. 3

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 
19 

TABLE 3: Milk cow and milk production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

Milk cows 9,217.9 9,208.6

Milk replacement heifers 4,550.7 4,539.2

Operations with milk cows 58,000 64,0981

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)1

1–29 head (1–19 in 2012) 32.4 (1.6) 31.6 (3.5)

30–49 head (20–49 in 2012) 16.7 (4.3) 22.0 (5.6)

50–99 head 25.0 (11.3) 23.9 (11.2)

100–199 head 13.6 (11.8) 11.5 (10.7)

200–499 head 6.6 (12.5) 5.8 (11.8)

500 or more head 5.7 (58.5) 5.2 (57.2)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.02)

Cows slaughtered (1,000 head), 

federally inspected 

Dairy cows 3,101.5 3,124.9

Other cows 3,344.2 3,130.1

All cows 6,445.62 6,254.92

Milk production 

Average number of milk cows during year 

(1,000 head) 9,233 9,221

Milk production per milk cow (lb) 21,720 21,822

Milk fat per milk cow (lb) 808 821

Percentage of fat 3.72 3.76

Total milk production (million lb) 200,537 201,218

Value of milk production ($1,000) 37,229,654 40,477,414

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

2012 Census of Agriculture. 

2

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 
20 

TABLE 4: Beef cow production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head)

Beef cows 29,297.3 29,042.2

Beef replacement heifers 5,380.6 5,470.8

Operations with beef cows 729,000 727,9061

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)1

1–49 head 79.7 (27.7) 81.6 (30.4)

50–99 head 10.8 (17.2) 9.8 (16.4)

100–499 head 8.7 (38.4) 7.8 (36.5)

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

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.0 (100.0)

Cows slaughtered (1,000 head), 

federally inspected 

Dairy cows 3,101.5 3,124.9

Other cows 3,344.2 3,130.1

All cows 6,445.62 6,254.92

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

2012 Census of Agriculture. 

2

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 
21 

TABLE 5: Cattle-on-feed production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

January 1 following-year 

inventory (1,000 head) for all lots 13,330.7 12,695.3

January 1 following-year inventory 

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

Steers and steer calves 7,032 6,780

Heifers and heifer calves 4,064 3,730

Cows and bulls 76 80

Total 11,172 10,590

Feedlot capacity 

(head)

Number 

of feedlots 

2013 Pct.

January 1, 

2014, 

inventory

(1,000 

head) Pct.

Marketed 

(1,000 head)

2013 Pct.

<1,000 71,000 97.1 2,105.3 16.6 3,010 12.2

1,000–1,999 740 1.0 360 2.8 628 2.5

2,000–3,999 560 0.8 670 5.3 1,300 5.3

4,000–7,999 345 0.5 970 7.6 1,790 7.3

8,000–15,999 170 0.2 1,020 8.0 2,210 9.0

16,000–31,999 143 0.2 1,870 14.7 3,840 15.6

≥ 32,000 132 0.2 5,700 44.9 11,850 48.1

All feedlots 73,090 100.0 12,695.3 100.01 24,628 100.0

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding.
22 

TABLE 6: Hog and pig production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

December 1 inventory (1,000 head)

Breeding 5,819 5,757

Market 60,555 60,183

All hogs and pigs 66,374 65,940

Operations with hogs and pigs 68,300 63,2461

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)1

1–99 head 71.3 (0.8) 74.8 (0.8)

100–499 head 7.3 (1.9) 5.7 (1.3)

500–999 head 3.4 (2.6) 3.1 (2.1)

1,000–1,999 head 4.8 (7.3) 4.2 (5.5)

2,000–4,999 head 8.3 (25.5) 7.5 (22.5)

≥5,000 head 4.8 (61.9) 4.8 (67.7)

Total 100.0 2(100.0) 100.02 (100.02)

Pig crop (1,000 head)

December–November3 116,791 116,639

Pigs per litter 

December–November3 10.08 10.22

Deaths (1,000 head) 8,798.7 9,638.3

Slaughter (1,000 head)

Federally inspected 

Barrows and gilts 108,912.3 107,964.9

Sows 3,008.8 2,931.5

Stags and boars 344.3 351.4

Other 897.9 828.8

Total commercial 113,163.3 112,076.72

Farm slaughter 83.3 71.2

Total slaughter 113,246.6 112,247.9

Value of production ($1,000) 20,244,331 21,408,909

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

2012 Census of Agriculture. 

2

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 

3

December of the preceding year. 
23 

TABLE 7: Sheep and goat production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

January 1 following-year 

sheep inventory (1,000 head)

Breeding sheep and lambs 3,975.0 3,880.0

Replacement lambs under 1 year old 660.0 635.0

Ewes 1 year old and older 3,140.0 3,070.0

Rams 1 year old and older 175.0 175.0

Market 1,360.0 1,330.0

All sheep and lambs 5,335.0 5,210.0

Operations with sheep breeding 79,500 88,3381

Size of operation 

Percentage operations

(percentage inventory)1

1–99 head 93.9 (35.5) 92.2 (29.1)

100–499 head (100–999 in 2012) 5.0 (21.1) 7.1 (27.2)

500–4,999 head (1,000–4,999 in 2012) 1.0 (31.2) 0.6 (19.4)

≥5,000 head 0.1 (12.2) 0.2 (24.4)

Total 100.0 (100.0) 100.02 (100.02)

Lamb crop (1,000 head) 3,450.0 3,370.0

Deaths—sheep (1,000 head) 229 225

Deaths—lambs (1,000 head) 365 360

Slaughter (1,000 head) 

Federally inspected 

Mature sheep 143.1 132.6

Lambs 1,869.1 1,987.6

Other 170.7 198.5

Total commercial 2,182.9 2,318.7

Farm slaughter 92.5 93.5

Total slaughter 2,275.4 2,412.2

Wool production 

Sheep shorn (1,000 head) 3,750 3,700

Shorn wool production (1,000 lb) 27,400 27,000

Value of wool production ($1,000) 41,595 39,213 1

2012 Census of Agriculture. 

2

Sum may not equal reported total due to rounding. 

 
24 

2012 2013

January 1 following-year goat 

inventory (1,000 head)

All 

Angora 136 131

Milk 360 355

Meat and other 2,315 2,275

All 2,811 2,761

Does, 1 year old and older 

Angora 96 91

Milk 234 232

Meat and other 1,404 1,365

All 1,734 1,688

Bucks 

Angora 7 7

Milk 23 23

Meat and other 145 140

All goats 175 170

Kid crop 

Angora 70 68

Milk 267 251

Meat and other 1,450 1,420

All 1,787 1,739

Operations with goats3

Angora 5,300 9,479

Milk 30,500 29,570

Meat and other 123,000 100,910

All 149,000 128.456

Source: USDA–NASS. 

3

2013 numbers are from 2012 Census of Agriculture. 
25 

TABLE 8: Poultry production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

December 1 average layers during the year 

(1,000 head) 341,052 346,406

Eggs per layer 274 275

Total egg production (million eggs) 93,292 95,176

Number of broilers produced (1,000 head) 8,463,000 8,524,800

Number of turkeys raised (1,000 head) 253,500 240,000

Number slaughtered (1,000 head)

Chickens—young 8,428,999 8,503,750

Chickens—mature 147,196 145,006

Chickens—total 8,576,195 8,648,756

Turkeys—young 248,590 237,946

Turkeys—old 1,602 1,440

Turkeys—total 250,192 239,386

Ducks 24,183 24,575

Value of production ($1,000)

Broilers 24,827,800 30,679,781

Eggs 7,851,830 8,498,935

Turkeys 5,452,135 4,839,072

Chickens (value of sales) 79,086 87,861

Total 38,210,851 44,105,649

Source: USDA–NASS. 
26 

TABLE 9: Equine inventory, 2002, 2007, and 2012 

2002 2007 2012

January 1 following-year inventory 

(1,000 head)

All equids on farms 3,749 4,313 3,914

Horses and ponies 3,644 4,029 3,621

Mules, burros, and donkeys 105 284 293

Number farms 

With horses and ponies 542,223 575,942 504,795

With mules, burros, and donkeys 29,936 99,746 98,379

Source: USDA–NASS, 2002, 2007, and 2012 Census of Agriculture. 
27 

TABLE 10: Catfish and trout production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

Catfish 

Number of fish on January 1, following year (1,000) 

Foodsize 166,690 152,940

Stockers 339,260 288,920

Fingerlings 398,510 313,360

Broodfish 540 560

Number of operations on January 1, 

following year

624

(sales)

1,1831

(sold or distributed)

Sales ($1,000)

Foodsize 318,784 321,371

Stockers 10,750 10,258

Fingerlings 10,935 10,592

Broodfish 95 184

Total sales 340,564 342,405

Trout 

Number of fish (1,000) 

≥12 inches 41,700 40,970

6–12 inches 6,780 3,660

1–6 inches 6,750 6,460

Sales ($1,000)

≥12 inches 86,043 90,371

6–12 inches 5,967 5,050

1–6 inches 1,094 1,000

Total sales (excluding eggs) 93,104 96,421

Eggs sold 

Number of eggs (1,000) 434,090 445,705

Total sales ($1,000) 8,469 8,636

Total value of fish sold including eggs 

($1,000) 101,573 105,057

Number of operations selling trout 264 3

Number of operations selling or 

distributing trout,2 or both 644 1,0411

Source: USDA–NASS. 

1

2012 Census of Agriculture; December 31, 2012. 2

Trout distributed for restoration, conservation, or recreational purposes. 

3

Census of Aquaculture, available October 2014.
28 

TABLE 11: Honey* production, 2012 and 2013 

2012 2013

Honey-producing colonies (1,000) 2,539 2,640

Yield per colony (lb) 56.0 56.6

Production (1,000 lb) 142,296 149,499

Stocks on December 15 (1,000 lb) 31,829 38,160

Value of production ($1,000) 283,454 317,087

Source: USDA–NASS. 

*For producers with five or more colonies. 
29 

TABLE 12: Production data on miscellaneous livestock, 2012 

Commodity 

Number of 

farms Inventory Number sold

Mules, burros, donkeys 98,379 292,590 34,470

Rabbits 13,420 400,049 852,827

Roosters 13,399 7,564,783 8,354,819

Ducks 21,115 5,018,661 23,180,663

Geese 10,286 106,462 201,548

Pigeons 2,149 415,365 1,115,218

Pheasants 2,322 2,436,570 7,944,207

Quail 2,310 6,304,956 27,130,545

Emus 1,550 13,281 3,064

Ostriches 258 6,540 3,141

Bison 2,564 162,110 57,335

Deer 4,042 231,431 36,218

Elk 1,199 38,061 6,913

Alpacas 9,353 140,601 14,978

Llamas 15,296 76,086 5,514

Source: USDA–NASS 2012 Census of Agriculture. 
30 

TABLE 13: Slaughter statistics, 2013 

Commodity 

Federally 

inspected 

plants (no.)

Slaughter in 

federally inspected 

plants (1,000 head)*

Slaughter in Stateinspected or 

custom-exempt 

plants (1,000 head)

Cattle 638 31,947.0 515.3

Calves 209 751.0 10.9

Hogs 606 111,247.9 828.8

Sheep and lambs 516 2,120.1 198.5

Goats NA 526.0 161.2

Bison NA 46.3 10.6

Source: USDA–NASS Livestock Slaughter 2013 Summary, April 2013. 

*Includes data for the calendar year.