Cattle Inventory

Sheep & Goat Inventory

January 1, 2019

Executive Briefing

February 28, 2019

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Survey Overview

January Cattle January Sheep and Goats

Data collection period January 29 – February 9

Sample size 36,000 22,400

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

February 28, 2019
U.S. Cattle and Calves Revisions

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2018

All cattle and calves 94,399.0 -101,000

-0.1% 94,298.0

All cows and heifers 

that have calved

41,122.6 -224,300

-0.5% 40,898.3

Calf crop 35,808.2 -50,000

-0.1% 35,758.2

July 1, 2018

All cattle and calves 103,200.0 -200,000

-0.2% 103,000.0

All cows and heifers 

that have calved

41,900.0 -100,000

-0.2% 41,800.0

Calf crop 36,500.0 -97,300

-0.3% 36,402.7

February 28, 2019
U.S. Cattle Inventory January 1

Items 2018

(1,000 head)

2019

(1,000 head) % PY

All cattle and calves 94,298 94,760 100

All cows and heifers that have calved 40,898 41,119 101

Beef cows 31,466 31,766 101

Milk cows 9,432 9,353 99

All heifers 500 pounds and over 20,218 20,230 100

For beef cow replacement 6,108 5,925 97

Beef replacements expected to calve 3,763 3,544 94

For milk cow replacement 4,768 4,702 99

Milk replacements expected to calve 3,036 3,006 99

Other heifers 9,341 9,604 103

Steers 500 pounds and over 16,528 16,633 101

Bulls 500 pounds and over 2,252 2,263 100

Calves under 500 pounds 14,401 14,515 101

All cattle on feed 14,146 14,371 102

Previous year calf crop 35,758 36,403 102

February 28, 2019

Totals may not add due to rounding
February 28, 2019

Legend 

(1,000 head)

• January 1, 2019 Inventory

• Number of Head Change from 

Previous Year 

January 1, 2019 Inventory

All Cattle and Calves
85

90

95

100

105

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

U.S. All Cattle and Calves

January 1, 1999 - 2019

94.4

96.6

88.5

94.8

Year

February 28, 2019

Million head
28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

Million head

Year

February 28, 2019

U.S. Beef Cows

January 1, 1999 - 2019

29.1

32.7

32.5 31.8
Trade Expectations Compared to NASS 

Estimates as Percent of Previous Year

February 28, 2019

102.1

101.6

99.1

100.4

100.0

100.1

101.6

101.8

99.2

101.0

100.5

100.5

98 98.5 99 99.5 100 100.5 101 101.5 102 102.5

All cattle on feed

Calf crop

Milk cows

Beef cows

All cows and heifers that have calved

All cattle and calves

Min Trade Range Trade Average NASS
85

90

95

100

2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

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

Million head

Year

February 28, 2019

All Cattle and Calves Inventory

First Estimate versus Final Estimate

January 1, 2009 - 2019
14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

26%

28%

30%

32%

34%

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

All Cow Heifer

Herd rebuilding 

Year

February 28, 2019

All Cow & Heifer Slaughter 

as a Percent of Total Slaughter

Percent of Slaughter
85

105

40%

45%

50%

55%

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Cow and Heifer % of Slaughter Cattle Inventory of Following Year

Million head

Year

February 28, 2019

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

February 28, 2019

Item 2018

(1,000 head)

2019

(1,000 head)

% PY

Calves under 500 pounds 14,401 14,515 101

Steers and other heifers 500 pounds and over 25,870 26,236 101

Total supply 40,271 40,751 101

All cattle on feed 14,146 14,371 102

Feeder cattle supply 26,125 26,380 101

Number grazing on small grain pasture, 

3 States

1,500 1,900 127

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

February 28, 2019

Item 2018

(1,000 head)

2019

(1,000 head)

% PY

Capacity of 1,000 head or more 11,489 11,690 102

Percent of total 81.2% 81.3%

Capacity of less than 1,000 head 2,657 2,681 101

Percent of total 18.8% 18.7%

All cattle on feed 14,146 14,371 102
U.S. Sheep and Lambs Revisions

February 28, 2019

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2018

All sheep and lambs 5,230 +35,000

+0.7% 5,265

Lamb crop 3,200 +30,000

+0.9% 3,230
U.S. All Sheep and Lambs Inventory

January 1

Items 2018

(1,000 head)

2019

(1,000 head) % PY

All sheep and lambs 5,265 5,230 99

Market 1,400 1,410 101

Breeding 3,865 3,820 99

Replacement lambs under one year old 662 650 98

Ewes one year old and older 3,033 3,000 99

Rams one year old and older 170 170 100

Previous year lamb crop 3,230 3,235 100

February 28, 2019

Totals may not add due to rounding
5

6

7

8

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

6.20

6.07

5.23

Million head

Year

February 28, 2019

U.S. All Sheep and Lambs Inventory

January 1, 1999 - 2019

5.27

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

February 28, 2019

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2018

All goats and kids 2,620 +19,000

+0.7% 2,639

Kid crop 1,637 -1,000

-0.1% 1,636
U.S. All Goats and Kids Inventory

January 1

Items 2018

(1,000 head)

2019

(1,000 head) % PY

All goats and kids 2,639 2,622 99

Market 463 474 102

Breeding 2,176 2,148 99

Replacement kids under one year old 396 393 99

Does one year old and older 1,617 1,595 99

Bucks one year old and older 163 160 98

Previous year kid crop 1,636 1,638 100

February 28, 2019

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

January 1

Items 2018

(1,000 head)

2019

(1,000 head) % PY

All goats 2,639 2,622 99

Meat and other 2,075 2,055 99

Milk 420 430 102

Angora 144 137 95

February 28, 2019

Totals may not add due to rounding
1.9

2.4

2.9

3.4

2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

ALL Meat & Other

2.64

2.08

3.07

2.62

2.06

Million head

Year

February 28, 2019

U.S. All Goats and Kids Inventory versus 

Meat and Other Goats and Kids Inventory

January 1, 2009 - 2019

2.50
Upcoming NASS Reports

Release Date Report Title

March 1 CAIR: Cotton System, Fats &Oils, Flour Milling, and 

Grain Crushings

March 4 Livestock Slaughter

March 8 Crop Production

Cattle on Feed

March 12 Milk Production

March 19 Milk Production

March 21 Livestock Slaughter

March 22 Cattle on Feed

March 28 Agricultural Prices

Hogs and Pigs

February 28, 2019
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

February 28, 2019