Cattle Inventory

Sheep & Goat Inventory

January 1, 2017

Executive Briefing

January 31, 2017

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Survey Overview

January Cattle January Sheep and Goats

Data collection period December 31 – January 18

Sample size 38,000 22,300

Collection methods Mail, telephone, internet, face-to-face interview

Primary data items Total inventory, inventory 

by class, calf crop

Total inventory, inventory by 

class, lamb/kid crop

January 31, 2017
U.S. Cattle and Calves Revisions

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2016

All cattle and calves 91,988.0 -70,000

-0.1% 91,918.0

All cows and heifers 

that have calved

39,646.2 -170,000

-0.4% 39,476.2

Calf crop 34,301.7 -215,000

-0.6% 34,086.7

January 31, 2017
U.S. Cattle Inventory January 1

Items 2016

(1,000 head)

2017

(1,000 head) % PY

All cattle and calves 91,918 93,585 102

All cows and heifers that have calved 39,476 40,559 103

Beef cows 30,166 31,210 103

Milk cows 9,310 9,349 100

All heifers 500 pounds and over 19,907 20,052 101

For beef cow replacement 6,340 6,419 101

Beef replacements expected to calve 3,937 4,000 102

For milk cow replacement 4,814 4,754 99

Milk replacements expected to calve 3,112 3,072 99

Other heifers 8,753 8,879 101

Steers 500 pounds and over 16,315 16,354 100

Bulls 500 pounds and over 2,142 2,234 104

Calves under 500 pounds 14,077 14,386 102

All cattle on feed 13,157 13,067 99

Previous year calf crop 34,087 35,083 103

January 31, 2017

Totals may not add due to rounding
January 31, 2017

Legend 

(1,000 head)

• January 1, 2017 Inventory

• Number of Head Change from 

Previous Year 

January 1, 2017 Inventory

All Cattle and Calves
85

90

95

100

105

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

U.S. All Cattle and Calves

January 1, 1997 - 2017

94.4

96.6

88.5

93.6

Year

January 31, 2017

Million head
28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

Million head

Year

January 31, 2017

U.S. Beef Cows

January 1, 1997 - 2017

29.1

32.7

32.5

31.2
Inventory Items

NASS

Estimate

Trade

Average

Trade

Range

All cattle and calves 101.8% 100.8% 99.9 – 101.3%

All cows and heifers that 

have calved 102.7% 101.0% 99.5 – 102.0%

Beef cows 103.5% 101.1% 99.2 – 102.1%

Milk cows 100.4% 100.4% 99.8 – 101.0%

Calf crop 102.9% 101.7% 101.4 – 102.0%

All cattle on feed 99.3% 99.0% 98.8 – 99.4%

NASS Estimates Compared to Trade 

Expectations Percent of Previous Year

January 31, 2017
85

90

95

100

2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

ASB First Estimate ASB Final Estimate Trade Lower Range Trade Upper Range

Million head

Year

January 31, 2017

All Cattle and Calves Inventory

First Estimate versus Final Estimate

January 1, 2007 - 2017
14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

26%

28%

30%

32%

34%

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

All Cow Heifer

Herd rebuilding 

Year

January 31, 2017

All Cow & Heifer Slaughter 

as a Percent of Total Slaughter

Percent of Slaughter
85

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

130

135

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

55%

1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Cow and Heifer % of Slaughter Cattle Inventory of Following Year

Million head

Year

January 31, 2017

Cattle Inventory vs Cow and Heifer 

Slaughter as a Percent of Slaughter

Percent of Slaughter
U.S. Feeder Cattle Supply on January 1

Totals may not add due to rounding

January 31, 2017

Item 2016

(1,000 head)

2017

(1,000 head)

% PY

Calves under 500 pounds 14,077 14,386 102

Steers and other heifers 500 pounds and over 25,069 25,232 101

Total supply 39,145 39,619 101

All cattle on feed 13,157 13,067 99

Feeder cattle supply 25,988 26,552 102

Number grazing on small grain pasture, 

3 States

1,900 1,800 95

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
U.S. Sheep Revisions

January 31, 2017

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2016

All sheep and lambs 5,320 -20,000

-0.4% 5,300

Lamb crop 3,440 -165,000

-4.8% 3,275
U.S. Sheep and Lamb Inventory

January 1

Items 2016

(1,000 head)

2017

(1,000 head) % PY

All sheep and lambs 5,300 5,200 98

Market 1,355 1,345 99

Breeding 3,945 3,855 98

Replacement lambs under one year old 665 650 98

Ewes one year old and older 3,105 3,035 98

Rams one year old and older 175 170 97

Previous year lamb crop 3,275 3,250 99

January 31, 2017

Totals may not add due to rounding
4

5

6

7

8

9

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

6.20

6.07

5.20

Million head

Year

January 31, 2017

U.S. Sheep and Lambs

January 1, 1997 - 2017

5.30

2005-06 Ewe Retention Program

5.25
U.S. Goats Revisions

January 31, 2017

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2016

All goats and kids 2,620 - 2,620

Kid crop 1,677 -46,000

-2.7% 1,631
U.S. Goat and Kid Inventory

January 1

Items 2016

(1,000 head)

2017

(1,000 head) % PY

All goats and kids 2,620 2,640 101

Market 459 469 102

Breeding 2,161 2,171 100

Replacement kids under one year old 391 393 101

Does one year old and older 1,607 1,614 100

Bucks one year old and older 163 164 101

Previous year kid crop 1,631 1,641 101

January 31, 2017

Totals may not add due to rounding
U.S. Goat Inventory by Type

January 1

Items 2016

(1,000 head)

2017

(1,000 head) % PY

All goats 2,620 2,640 101

Meat and other 2,097 2,115 101

Milk 373 373 100

Angora 150 152 101

January 31, 2017

Totals may not add due to rounding
2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

ALL Meat & Other

2.64

2.12

2.65

2.61

3.12

2.13

2.11 2.09

2.62

Million head

Year

January 31, 2017

U.S. All Goats Inventory versus 

Meat and Other Goats Inventory

January 1, 2007 - 2017

2.59
Upcoming NASS Reports

Release Date Report Title

February 1 Cotton System

Fats & Oils

Flour Milling

Grain Crushings

February 9 Crop Production

February 17 Farm & Land in Farms

February 21 Milk Production

February 23 Cold Storage 

Cold Storage – Annual 

Livestock Slaughter

February 24 Cattle on Feed

February 28 Agricultural Prices

January 31, 2017
All Reports Available At

www.nass.usda.gov

For Questions

(202) 720-3570

(800) 727-9540

nass@nass.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

January 31, 2017