1

Cattle Industry 

A $76.4 billion industry, 19 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales.

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

ACH12-20/February 2015

Highlights

In 2012, sales of cattle and calves in the United States totaled $76.4 billion, a 25 

percent increase since 2007, when the agriculture census was last conducted. 

Although every state has cattle production, the top ten states accounted for 

73 percent 

of sales. The 

2012 Census 

of Agriculture 

provides a 

comprehensive 

picture of the 

cattle industry. 

Three states. . . 

. . . accounted for 44 percent of 

cattle and calves sales in 2012.

Top States in Sales

($ billions)

Texas 13.0

Kansas 10.2

Nebraska 10.1

Iowa 4.5

Colorado 4.3

Oklahoma 3.4

California 3.3

South Dakota 3.0

Missouri 2.0

Idaho 1.8

Industry Overview

Although sales value increased between 2007 and 2012, end-of-year cattle 

inventory declined 7 percent during that time, from 96.3 million to 90.0 million

head. The number of farms and ranches involved in cattle production also 

declined. (Table 1) 

The $76.4 billion in cattle and calves sales includes sales of beef cattle ($29.6 

billion), feedlot cattle 

($36.4 billion), dairy cattle 

($4.5 billion), and other 

cattle (for example, steers 

and bulls). This document 

features data on beef cow 

operations and feedlot 

operations.

Cattle and Calves Sales as Percent of Agriculture Sales, by County, 2012

percent

< 10

10 - 19

20 - 39

40 - 59

60 - 79

80 +

U.S. = 19.4%

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Table 1

U.S. Cattle and Calf Farming, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

Sales ($ billions) 61.2 76.4 + 24.8

Inventory (millions) 96.3 90.0 - 6.6

Farms (number) 963,669 913,246 - 5.2

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

www.agcensus.usda.gov

(800)727-9540
2 Cattle Industry

BEEF CATTLE . . . a $29.6 billion industry, up 19 percent since 2007.

In 2012, sales of beef cattle in the United States totaled 

$29.6 billion, accounting for 7 percent of total U.S. 

agriculture sales. Between 2007 and 2012, sales increased 

19 percent ($4.7 billion). During that same period, however, 

the number of farms with beef cows declined 5 percent, 

and end-of-year inventory declined 12 percent. (Table 2)

Table 2

U.S. Beef Cattle Farming, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

Sales ($ billions) 24.9 29.6 + 18.8

Inventory (millions) 32.8 29.0 - 11.8

Farms (number) 764,984 727,906 - 4.8

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Industry Size, Value, and Location

Every state raises and sells beef cattle, but the top five – 

Nebraska, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, and Oklahoma 

– accounted for 43 percent of sales in 2012. Between 2007

and 2012, Nebraska had the largest increase in sales (up 

$1.1 billion), followed by South Dakota (up $0.6 billion) and 

Texas (up $0.4 billion). Eight states declined in sales, with 

California having the largest decrease.

The 2012 end-of-year inventory was 29 million head of 

beef cows and heifers that calved. The top five states in 

inventory – Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and

Beef Cattle Inventory, by County, 2012

1 Dot = 2,500 Beef Cows

U.S. = 29.0 million

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

South Dakota – 

accounted for 38 

percent. At the county 

level, the geographic 

spread was wider. 

Only four of the top 

ten counties were 

in one of the top 

five states. Cherry 

County, Nebraska, 

ranked first in the 

nation.

Production Costs

Of the 727,906 farms with beef cows, 85 percent had 

more than 50 percent of their sales come from beef cattle. 

These specialized farms accounted for 37 percent of beef 

cattle sales in 2012. Their production expenses were $34.6 

billion, up 27 percent from 2007. The largest expense 

item was feed purchased, which totaled $8.9 billion or 26 

percent of total production costs, followed by livestock 

purchases at $8.7 billion. Average production cost per farm 

was $55,939, up 35 percent from 2007. 

Farm Characteristics

In 2012, 91 percent of beef cattle operations were family 

or individually operated, slightly higher than the 87 percent 

of all farms that were family or individually operated. The 

breakout by size of operation remained fairly constant 

between 2007 and 2012.

Top States in Beef Cows

Sales ($ billions) Inventory (millions)

Nebraska 3.7 Texas 4.3

Texas 3.3 Nebraska 1.7

South Dakota 2.2 Missouri 1.7

Kansas 1.8 Oklahoma 1.7

Oklahoma 1.6 South Dakota 1.6

Montana 1.5 Montana 1.4

Iowa 1.5 Kansas 1.3

Missouri 1.4 Kentucky 1.0

Colorado 1.1 Florida 1.0

North Dakota 0.9 Iowa 0.9

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Top Counties: Beef Cow Inventory 

(thousand head)

Cherry, NE 135.9 

Okeechobee, FL 88.0 

Holt, NE 87.1 

Custer, NE 86.1 

Beaverhead, MT 77.1 

Highlands, FL 75.7 

Meade, SD 70.4 

Malheur, OR 68.9 

Osceola, FL 66.3 

Polk, FL 66.2 

Does not include counties withheld to avoid disclosing 

individual data. 

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.
2012 Census of Agriculture 3

CATTLE FEEDLOTS . . . a $36.4 billion industry, up 26 percent since 2007.

In 2012, sales of cattle and calves from feedlots totaled 

$36.4 billion, accounting for 9 percent of U.S. agriculture 

sales. Sales value was up 26 percent since 2007, but 

the number of cattle and calves sold for slaughter was 8 

percent lower than in 2007. During that same period, the 

number of farms with cattle feedlots declined 47 percent, 

and end-of-year inventory declined 11 percent. (Table 3) 

Table 3

U.S. Cattle-on-Feed Production, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

Sales ($ billions) 28.8 36.4 + 26.3

Cattle sold for slaughter (millions) 27.6 25.5 - 7.7

Inventory (millions) 16.1 14.4 - 10.6

Farms (number) 50,009 26,586 - 46.8

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Industry Size, Value, and Location

The cattle-on-feed industry is relatively concentrated in the 

central part of the country. Five states – Texas, Nebraska, 

Kansas, Colorado, 

and Iowa – 

accounted for 76 

percent of cattle 

sold for slaughter 

and 71 percent of 

inventory.

At the county level, 

seven of the top ten 

counties in cattle 

feedlot inventory 

were in the top three 

states. Imperial 

County, California, 

had the largest inventory, with 341,800 

head or 2.4 percent 

of the U.S. total.

Production Costs

Of the 26,586 farms engaged in cattle feedlot production, 

52 percent had more than half of their sales come from 

sales of cattle in feedlots. These specialized farms 

accounted for 48 percent of feedlot cattle and calves sales 

in 2012. Their production costs were $35.8 billion, up 30 

percent from 2007. The largest expense item was livestock 

purchased or leased at $19.2 billion, accounting for 54 

percent of total production costs. Per farm average costs 

were $2.6 million, a 194 percent increase over 2007.

Farm Characteristics

In 2012, 80 percent of cattle feedlots were family or 

individually operated compared to 86 percent in 2007. In 

contrast, corporations accounted for 9 percent of feedlots 

in 2012 and 5 percent in 2007.

Between 2007 and 2012, the proportion of cattle-on-feed 

inventory on smaller operations declined and the proportion 

on larger operations increased. Operations with fewer than 

100 cattle on feed accounted for 77 percent of feedlots in 

2007 and 61 percent in 2012. Operations with 1,000 or 

more head of cattle on feed accounted for 75 percent of the 

inventory in 2007 and 77 percent in 2012.

About the Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture is the leading source of facts and

figures about American agriculture. USDA’s National 

Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the census 

once every five years, and conducted the 2012 Census of 

Agriculture in early 2013 based on 2012 end-of-year data.

The 2012 Census provide information at national, state, and 

county levels about what agricultural products were produced 

in the United States in 2012, where, how, and by whom.

For more information on the U.S. cattle industry, including 

details about beef cattle ranching, feedlot production, and 

dairy production, and how to access national, state, and 

county data, see:

www.agcensus.usda.gov

Top Counties: Cattle on Feed Inventory 

(thousand head)

Imperial, CA 341.8

Parmer, TX 332.5

Haskell, KS 330.9

Deaf Smith, TX 328.4

Castro, TX 292.4

Sioux, IA 273.1

Cuming, NE 257.1

Weld, CO 249.2

Hartley, TX 216.2

Hansford, TX 210.0

Does not include counties withheld to avoid disclosing 

individual data. 

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Top States in Cattle on Feed, 2012

Cattle Sold for Slaughter

(millions)

Inventory

(millions)

Texas 5.5 Texas 2.8

Nebraska 5.0 Nebraska 2.6

Kansas 4.8 Kansas 2.3

Colorado 2.1 Iowa 1.6

Iowa 2.0 Colorado 1.0

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.
4 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Table 4 

Cattle Producers: Key Characteristics, by Farm Specialization, 2007 and 2012

(principal operators)

Beef Cattle Operations Feedlot Operations Dairy Operations All Farms

2007 2012 2007 2012 2007 2012 2012

percent

Gender

 Male 89 89 93 95 94 95 86

 Female 11 11 7 5 6 5 14

Age 

Under 45 years 17 16 21 22 28 28 16

45 to 64 years 50 49 53 50 56 57 51

65 years and older 33 35 26 28 16 15 33

Primary Occupation

 Farming 44 45 52 69 87 90 48

 Other 56 55 48 31 13 10 52

Percent of Income from Farming

 < 25% 78 78 65 41 23 20 70

 25% to 49% 8 9 9 12 8 7 8

 50% to 74% 7 7 10 17 14 15 9

 75% to 99% 4 4 9 16 22 22 7

 100% 3 2 7 14 33 36 6

Average Age (years) 57.8 58.6 55.4 55.9 51.6 51.9 58.3

Principal operator is the person responsible for day-to-day operation of the farm. A farm specializing in a commodity has more than half of its sales come from that commodity.

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

About the Producers: Beef, Feedlot, and Dairy Cattle

The 2012 Census of Agriculture identified characteristics 

of those responsible for the day-to-day operation of farms 

specializing in beef cattle, cattle on feed, and dairy cattle. 

All three types of cattle operations had a higher percentage 

of male principal operators in 2012 than the percentage for 

all farms. Beef cattle operations had a higher proportion of 

farms operated by women (11 percent) than either feedlot 

or dairy operations had (5 percent each). 

Principal operators of cattle feedlots and dairy farms on 

average were younger (55.9 and 51.9 years, respectively) 

than operators of beef cattle farms (58.6 years) or 

operators of all farms (58.3 years). 

Ninety percent of dairy operators considered farming 

their primary occupation. For feedlot operators, it was 69 

percent. In contrast, more than half of beef cattle principal 

operators, and more than half of all principal operators, 

considered some other activity their primary occupation. 

(Table 4)

Change in Inventory: All Cattle and Calves, by County, 2007 to 2012

(beef, feedlot, dairy, other)

Cattle inventory in the United States declined 7 percent between 2007 and 2012, 

for a net decrease of 6.4 million head.

1 Dot = 1,000 Cattle and Calves Increase

1 Dot = 1,000 Cattle and Calves Decrease

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.