July Cattle

Agricultural Statistics Board Briefing

Travis Averill, Chief

Livestock Branch

July 23, 2021
July 2021 Cattle Survey

Sample Sizes

July 23, 2021
July 1 Cattle and Calves

United States 2020 2021 % Change from

(1,000 head) Previous Year

All cattle and calves 102,200 100,900 ↓ 1.3

95

100

105

110

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 All Cattle and Calves

The July Cattle report was suspended in 2013 and 2016 due to sequestration. 

July 23, 2021
July 1 Cows

United States 2020 2021 % Change from 

(1,000 head) Previous Year

All cows and heifers that have calved 41,400 40,900 ↓ 1.2

Beef cows 32,050 31,400 ↓ 2.0

Milk cows 9,350 9,500 ↑ 1.6

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 Beef Cows

8.9

9

9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 Milk Cows

The July Cattle report was suspended in 2013 and 2016 due to sequestration. 

July 23, 2021
July 1 Heifers

United States 2020 2021 % Change from 

(1,000 head) Previous Year

All heifers 500 pounds and over 16,200 16,000 ↓ 1.2

Beef cow replacement 4,400 4,300 ↓ 2.3

Milk cow replacement 4,000 4,100 ↑ 2.5

Other heifers 7,800 7,600 ↓ 2.6

15.0

15.4

15.8

16.2

16.6

17.0

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 All Heifers

The July Cattle report was suspended in 2013 and 2016 due to sequestration. 

July 23, 2021
July 1 Steers, Bulls, and Calves

United States 2020 2021 % Change from

(1,000 head) Previous Year

Steers 500 pounds and over 14,700 14,500 ↓ 1.4

Bulls 500 pounds and over 2,100 2,100 - 0.0

Calves under 500 pounds 27,800 27,400 ↓ 1.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 Steers, Bulls, and Calves

Steers Bulls Calves

The July Cattle report was suspended in 2013 and 2016 due to sequestration. 

July 23, 2021
Calf Crop

United States 2020 2021 % Change from

(1,000 head) Previous Year

January 1 – June 30 25,750.0 25,800.0 ↑ 0.2

July 1 – December 31 9,385.5 9,300.0 ↓ 0.9

Total 35,135.5 35,100.0 ↓ 0.1

33.00

34.50

36.00

37.50

39.00

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

Calf Crop

July 23, 2021
Trade Expectations Compared to NASS 

Estimates Percent of Previous Year

July 23, 2021

99.0

99.6

101.0

98.9

99.3

99.5

98.7

99.9

101.6

98.0

98.8

98.7

97 98 99 100 101 102

Cattle on feed

Calf crop

Milk cows

Beef cows

All cows and heifers that have calved

All cattle and calves

Trade Range Trade Average NASS
July 1 Cattle

Key Items Impacting Inventory

United States

Jan-Jun Jan-Jun

Difference

2020 2021

(1,000 head)

Imports 1,114.9 892.9 222.0

Exports 120.9 236.0 115.1

Commercial slaughter 15,800.7 16,775.4 974.7

Inventory impact 1,311.8

July 23, 2021
July 1 Cattle on Feed

United States 2020 2021

(1,000 head) Percent of Total (1,000 head) Percent of Total

Capacity of 1,000 head or more 11,438 84.1 11,290 84.3

Capacity of less than 1,000 head 2,162 15.9 2,110 15.7

All cattle on feed 13,600 13,400

11.0

11.5

12.0

12.5

13.0

13.5

14.0

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 All Cattle on Feed

The July Cattle report was suspended in 2013 and 2016 due to sequestration. 

July 23, 2021
July 1 Feeder Cattle Supply

United States 2020 2021 % Change from 

(1,000 head) Previous Year

Calves under 500 pounds 27,800 27,400 ↓ 1.4

Steers and other heifers 500 pounds and over 22,500 22,100 ↓ 1.8

Total supply 50,300 49,500 ↓ 1.6

All cattle on feed 13,600 13,400 ↓ 1.5

Feeder cattle supply 36,700 36,100 ↓ 1.6

34

36

38

40

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021

Million head

July 1 Feeder Cattle Supply

The July Cattle report was suspended in 2013 and 2016 due to sequestration. 

July 23, 2021
Highlight of Upcoming Reports

July 30 Agricultural Prices

August 2

Cotton System, Fats & Oils, 

Flour Milling, Grain Crushings

Honey Bee Colonies

August 4 Dairy Products

August 6 Cash Rents

Land Values

August 12 Crop Production

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/index.php

July 23, 2021
July 23, 2021
All Reports Available at

www.nass.usda.gov

For Questions

(202) 720-3570

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