Cattle Inventory

Executive Briefing

July 25, 2014

July 25, 2014

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Survey Overview

• July Cattle

- Data Collection Period: June 30 – July 11

- Sample Size

o Cattle 10,180

- Collection Methods

o Phone, mail, internet, personal interview

- Data Items

o Total Inventory 

o Inventory by Class

o Calf Crop

July 25, 2014
U.S. Cattle Inventory July 1

Items 2012 2014 % of 

2012

 1,000 head

All Cattle & Calves 97,800 95,000 97%

Cows & Heifers that have Calved 39,700 39,000 98%

 Beef Cows 30,500 29,733 97%

 Milk Cows 9,200 9,267 101%

All Heifers 500 lbs & over 15,700 14,900 95%

 For Beef Replacements 4,200 4,100 98%

 For Milk Replacements 4,100 3,900 95%

 Other Heifers 7,400 6,900 93%

Steers 500 lbs & over 14,000 13,500 96%

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

Calves under 500 lbs 26,500 25,700 97%

Cattle on Feed 12,300 11,600 94%

Calf Crop - Annual 34,279 33,600 98%

July 25, 2014
Inventory Items

NASS

Estimate

Trade

Average

Trade

Range

All Cattle & Calves 97%

All Cows 98%

 Beef Cows 97%

 Milk Cows 101%

Calf Crop 98%

All Cattle on Feed 94%

NASS Estimates Compared to Trade Expectations

Percent of 2012

July 25, 2014
U.S. All Cattle & Calves

July 1, 1984 - 2014

July 25, 2014

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014

Million head

121.0

104.6

113.0

102.9

104.8

95.0
U.S. Beef Cows

July 1, 1984 - 2014

July 25, 2014

28

30

32

34

36

38

1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014

Million head

37.7

34.1

32.9

36.1

33.3

29.7
U.S. Beef Cow Balance Sheet

January – June

2012 2014

 1,000 Head

Begin Inventory Jan 1 30,282 29,042

Deaths 303 290

Commercial Slaughter 1,588 1,381

Beef Cow Supply 28,391 27,371

Ending Inventory 30,500 29,733

Indicated Replacements 2,109 2,362

Heifers 500+ Available

 For Replacements

5,296 5,471

Replacement % 39.8% 43.2%

Totals may not add due to rounding

July 25, 2014
Federally Inspected Slaughter

January – June

2013 – 2014

2013 2014 Change

 1,000 Head

Total Cattle Slaughter 15,849 14,975 -874

 Steer Slaughter 8,033 7,885 -148

 Heifer Slaughter 4,588 4,263 -326

 All Cow Slaughter 3,217 2,797 -421

 Dairy Cow Slaughter 1,593 1,416 -177

 Beef Cow Slaughter 1,624 1,381 -243

Totals may not add due to rounding

July 25, 2014
14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

34

36

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

Heifer % of Total All Cows % of Total

28.0

18.4

All Cow & Heifer Slaughter

as a Percent of Total Slaughter,

January 1 – June 30

Percent

July 25, 2014

Herd rebuilding
U.S. Cattle on Feed

July 1

2012 2014 % of 

2012

 1,000 Head

All Cattle on Feed 12,300 11,600 94%

 1,000+ 10,710 10,127 95%

 < 1,000 1,590 1,473 93%

Totals may not add due to rounding

July 25, 2014
U.S. Feeder Cattle Supply Outside Feedlots

July 1

2012 2014 % of 

2012

 1,000 Head

Calves < 500 lbs 26,500 25,700 97%

Steers > 500 lbs 14,000 13,500 96%

Other Heifers > 500 lbs 7,400 6,900 93%

Total Supply 47,900 46,100 96%

Cattle on Feed 12,300 11,600 96%

Feeder Cattle Supply 

Outside Feedlots

35,600 34,500 97%

Totals may not add due to rounding

July 25, 2014
Upcoming Reports

July 31 Agricultural Prices

August 12 Crop Production

August 19 Milk Production

August 21 U.S. and Canadian Cattle 

and Hogs

August 22 Cattle on Feed

September 4 2008-2012 Livestock Final 

Estimates

July 25, 2014

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
All Reports Available At

www.nass.usda.gov

For Questions Call or Email

202-720-3570

800-727-9540

nass@nass.usda.gov

July 25, 2014

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service