Cattle Inventory

July 1, 2015

Executive Briefing

July 24, 2015

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Survey Overview

July Cattle

Data Collection Period June 30 – July 14

Sample Size 10,180

Collection Methods Mail, Telephone, Internet, Face-to-Face Interview

Primary Data Items Total Inventory, Inventory by Class, Calf Crop, and 

Cattle on Feed

July 24, 2015
U.S. Cattle and Calves Revisions

Survey Item

Initial

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Previous 

Revision

(1,000 head)

Current

Revision

(1,000 head)

Net 

Revision

(1,000 head)

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

July 1, 2014 Cattle and 

Calves 95,000 +1,000+1%

+300

+0.3%

+1,300

+1.4% 96,300

All Cows 39,000 -100

-0.3%

+100

+0.3% 39,000

Beef 

Cows 29,733 -100-0.3%

+117

+0.4%

+17

+0.06% 29,750

Calf Crop 33,600 +300

+0.9%

+300

+0.9% 33,900

July 24, 2015
U.S. Cattle Inventory July 1

Items 2014 2015 % PY

1,000 head

All Cattle & Calves 96,300 98,400 102%

Cows & Heifers that have Calved 39,000 39,800 102%

Beef Cows 29,750 30,500 103%

Milk Cows 9,250 9,300 101%

All Heifers 500 lbs & over 15,600 15,900 102%

For Beef Replacements 4,600 4,900 107%

For Milk Replacements 4,100 4,200 102%

Other Heifers 6,900 6,800 99%

Steers 500 lbs & over 13,700 14,100 103%

Bulls 500 lb & over 1,900 1,900 100%

Calves under 500 lbs 26,100 26,700 102%

Calf Crop - Annual 33,900 34,300 101%

Cattle on Feed 11,900 12,100 102%

July 24, 2015
U.S. All Cattle & Calves

July 1, 1985 - 2015

95

100

105

110

115

120

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Million head

98.4

102.9

104.8

96.3

July 24, 2015
U.S. Beef Cows

July 1, 1985 - 2015

28

30

32

34

36

38

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Million head

30.5

33.2

33.3

29.8

July 24, 2015
Inventory Items

NASS

Estimate

Trade

Average

Trade

Range

All Cattle & Calves 102.2% 101.8% 101.2 - 102.2%

All Cows 102.1% 102.3% 101.5 - 103.3%

Beef Cows 102.5% 102.8% 101.9 - 104.2%

Milk Cows 100.5% 100.5% 100.4 - 100.6%

Calf Crop 101.2% 101.7% 100.8 - 102.7%

All Cattle on Feed 101.7% 101.6% 99.9 - 102.2%

NASS Estimates Compared 

to Trade Expectations 

Percent of Previous Year

July 24, 2015
Federally Inspected Slaughter

January – June

2014 – 2015

2014 2015 Change

1,000 head

Total Cattle Slaughter 14,972 13,969 -1,003

Steer Slaughter 7,753 7,406 -347

Heifer Slaughter 4,200 3,762 -438

All Cow Slaughter 2,752 2,578 -174

Dairy Cow Slaughter 1,391 1,457 +66

Beef Cow Slaughter 1,361 1,122 -239

Totals may not add due to rounding

July 24, 2015
14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

34

36

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Heifer % of Total All Cows % of Total

26.9

18.5

All Cow & Heifer Slaughter

as a Percent of Total Slaughter,

January 1 – June 30

Percent

Herd rebuilding

July 24, 2015
U.S. Cattle on Feed

July 1

2014 2015 % PY

1,000 head

All Cattle on Feed 11,900 12,100 102%

1,000+ 10,043 10,236 102%

< 1,000 1,857 1,864 100%

July 24, 2015
U.S. Feeder Cattle 

Supply Outside Feedlots

July 1

2014 2015 % PY

1,000 head

Calves < 500 lbs + 26,100 26,700 102%

Steers > 500 lbs + 13,700 14,100 103%

Other Heifers > 500 lbs + 6,900 6,800 99%

Total Supply = 46,700 47,600 102%

Cattle on Feed - 11,900 12,100 102%

Feeder Cattle Supply Outside Feedlots = 34,800 35,500 102%

July 24, 2015
Upcoming Reports

Release Date Report Title

July 30 Agricultural Prices

August 12 Crop Production

August 19 Milk Production

August 20 U.S. and Canadian Cattle

U.S. and Canadian Hogs

August 21 Cattle on Feed

July 24, 2015
All Reports Available At

www.nass.usda.gov

For Questions

(202) 720-3570

(800) 727-9540

nass@nass.usda.gov

July 24, 2015

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service