Cattle Inventory

Sheep & Goat Inventory

January 1, 2018

Executive Briefing

January 31, 2018

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Survey Overview

January Cattle January Sheep and Goats

Data collection period December 30 – January 18

Sample size 36,300 21,800

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, 2018
U.S. Cattle and Calves Revisions

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2017

All cattle and calves 93,584.6 +120,000

+0.1% 93,704.6

All cows and heifers 

that have calved

40,559.2 No revision 40,559.2

Calf crop 35,082.7 +10,000

+ <0.1% 35,092.7

July 1, 2017

All cattle and calves 102,600.0 -400,000

-0.4% 102,200.0

All cows and heifers 

that have calved

41,900.0 -300,000

-0.7% 41,600.0

Calf crop 36,300.0 -491,800

-1.4% 35,808.2

January 31, 2018
U.S. Cattle Inventory January 1

Items 2017

(1,000 head)

2018

(1,000 head) % PY

All cattle and calves 93,705 94,399 101

All cows and heifers that have calved 40,559 41,123 101

Beef cows 31,213 31,723 102

Milk cows 9,346 9,400 101

All heifers 500 pounds and over 20,132 20,245 101

For beef cow replacement 6,368 6,131 96

Beef replacements expected to calve 3,979 3,771 95

For milk cow replacement 4,754 4,781 101

Milk replacements expected to calve 3,072 3,038 99

Other heifers 9,010 9,332 104

Steers 500 pounds and over 16,384 16,352 100

Bulls 500 pounds and over 2,244 2,252 100

Calves under 500 pounds 14,386 14,427 100

All cattle on feed 13,067 14,006 107

Previous year calf crop 35,093 35,808 102

January 31, 2018

Totals may not add due to rounding
January 31, 2018

Legend 

(1,000 head)

• January 1, 2018 Inventory

• Number of Head Change from 

Previous Year 

January 1, 2018 Inventory

All Cattle and Calves
85

90

95

100

105

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

U.S. All Cattle and Calves

January 1, 1998 - 2018

94.4

96.6

88.5

94.4

Year

January 31, 2018

Million head
28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Million head

Year

January 31, 2018

U.S. Beef Cows

January 1, 1998 - 2018

29.1

32.7

32.5 31.7
Inventory Items

NASS

Estimate

Trade

Average

Trade

Range

All cattle and calves 100.7% 101.3% 101.0 – 101.9%

All cows and heifers that 

have calved 101.4% 101.5% 101.3 – 101.6%

Beef cows 101.6% 101.8% 101.7 – 101.9%

Milk cows 100.6% 100.2% 99.7 – 100.7%

Calf crop 102.0% 101.9% 101.3 – 102.8%

All cattle on feed 107.2% 106.7% 105.1 – 108.0%

Trade Expectations Compared to NASS 

Estimates as Percent of Previous Year

January 31, 2018
85

90

95

100

2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

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

Million head

Year

January 31, 2018

All Cattle and Calves Inventory

First Estimate versus Final Estimate

January 1, 2008 - 2018
14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

26%

28%

30%

32%

34%

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

All Cow Heifer

Herd rebuilding 

Year

January 31, 2018

All Cow & Heifer Slaughter 

as a Percent of Total Slaughter

Percent of Slaughter
85

105

125

145

40%

45%

50%

55%

1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017

Cow and Heifer % of Slaughter Cattle Inventory of Following Year

Million head

Year

January 31, 2018

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, 2018

Item 2017

(1,000 head)

2018

(1,000 head)

% PY

Calves under 500 pounds 14,386 14,427 100

Steers and other heifers 500 pounds and over 25,393 25,685 101

Total supply 39,780 40,112 101

All cattle on feed 13,067 14,006 107

Feeder cattle supply 26,713 26,105 98

Number grazing on small grain pasture, 

3 States

1,800 1,500 83

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
U.S. Cattle on Feed on January 1

January 31, 2018

Item 2017

(1,000 head)

2018

(1,000 head)

% PY

Capacity of 1,000 head or more 10,605 11,489 108

Percent of total 81.2% 82.0%

Capacity of less than 1,000 head 2,462 2,517 102

Percent of total 18.8% 18.0%

All cattle on feed 13,067 14,006 107
U.S. Sheep and Lambs Revisions

January 31, 2018

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2017

All sheep and lambs 5,200 +50,000

+1.0% 5,250

Lamb crop 3,250 No revision 3,250
U.S. All Sheep and Lambs Inventory

January 1

Items 2017

(1,000 head)

2018

(1,000 head) % PY

All sheep and lambs 5,250 5,230 100

Market 1,375 1,400 102

Breeding 3,875 3,830 99

Replacement lambs under one year old 660 655 99

Ewes one year old and older 3,045 3,005 99

Rams one year old and older 170 170 100

Previous year lamb crop 3,250 3,200 98

January 31, 2018

Totals may not add due to rounding
5

6

7

8

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

6.20

6.07

5.23

Million head

Year

January 31, 2018

U.S. All Sheep and Lambs Inventory

January 1, 1998 - 2018

5.30

2005-06 Ewe Retention Program
U.S. Goats and Kids Revisions

January 31, 2018

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2017

All goats and kids 2,640 No revision 2,640

Kid crop 1,641 No revision 1,641
U.S. All Goats and Kids Inventory

January 1

Items 2017

(1,000 head)

2018

(1,000 head) % PY

All goats and kids 2,640 2,620 99

Market 469 459 98

Breeding 2,171 2,161 100

Replacement kids under one year old 393 394 100

Does one year old and older 1,614 1,604 99

Bucks one year old and older 164 163 99

Previous year kid crop 1,641 1,637 100

January 31, 2018

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

January 1

Items 2017

(1,000 head)

2018

(1,000 head) % PY

All goats 2,640 2,620 99

Meat and other 2,115 2,098 99

Milk 373 380 102

Angora 152 142 93

January 31, 2018

Totals may not add due to rounding
2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

ALL Meat & Other

2.64

2.12

2.65

3.12

2.13

2.10

2.62 2.62

2.10

Million head

Year

January 31, 2018

U.S. All Goats and Kids Inventory versus 

Meat and Other Goats and Kids Inventory

January 1, 2008 - 2018

2.59
Upcoming NASS Reports

Release Date Report Title

February 1 Cotton System

Fats & Oils

Flour Milling

Grain Crushings

February 8 Crop Production

February 16 Farm & Land in Farms

February 21 Milk Production

February 22 Cold Storage 

Cold Storage – Annual 

Livestock Slaughter

February 23 Cattle on Feed

February 27 Agricultural Prices

January 31, 2018
United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

January 31, 2018
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, 2018