Cattle Inventory

Sheep & Goat Inventory

January 1, 2016

Executive Briefing

January 29, 2016

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Survey Overview

January Cattle January Sheep & Goats

Data Collection Period December 31 – January 15

Sample Size 37,900 26,500

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 29, 2016
U.S. Cattle and Calves Revisions

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Net 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

July 1, 2014

All cattle and calves 95,000 -600,000

-0.6%

+700,000

+0.7% 95,700

All cows 39,000 - - 39,000

Calf crop 33,600 -378,000

1.1%

-78,000

-0.2% 33,522

January 1, 2015

All cattle and calves 89,800 -657,000

-0.7% 89,143

All cows 39,000 -391,000

-1.0% 38,609

Calf crop 33,900 -378,000

-1.1% 33,522

July 1, 2015

All cattle and calves 98,400 -200,000

-0.2% 98,200

All cows 39,800 - 39,800

Calf crop 34,300 +1,700

+0.0% 34,302

January 29, 2016
U.S. Cattle Inventory January 1

Items 2015

(1,000 head)

2016

(1,000 head) % PY

All Cattle & Calves 89,143 91,988 103

Cows & Heifers that have Calved 38,609 39,646 103

Beef Cows 29,302 30,331 104

Milk Cows 9,307 9,315 100

All Heifers 500 lbs & over 19,261 19,822 103

For Beef Replacements 6,086 6,285 103

Beef Repl. Expected to Calve 3,712 3,925 106

For Milk Replacements 4,710 4,824 102

Milk Repl. Expected to Calve 3,051 3,117 102

Other Heifers 8,464 8,713 103

Steers 500 lbs & over 15,630 16,320 104

Bulls 500 lb & over 2,109 2,142 102

Calves under 500 lbs 13,534 14,057 104

Cattle on Feed 13,025 13,177 101

Previous Year Calf Crop 33,522 34,302 102

January 29, 2016

Totals may not add due to rounding
January 29, 2016

Legend

Percent Change from Previous Year

Number of Head Change from 

Previous Year (1,000 head)
85

90

95

100

105

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

U.S. All Cattle & Calves

January 1, 1996 - 2016

94.4

96.6

88.5

92.0

Year

January 29, 2016

Million head
28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Million head

Year

January 29, 2016

U.S. Beef Cows

January 1, 1996 - 2016

29.1

32.7

32.5

30.3
Inventory Items

NASS

Estimate

Trade

Average

Trade

Range

All Cattle & Calves 103.2% 101.8% 101.1 – 102.3%

All Cows 102.7% 102.3% 101.3 – 103.8%

Beef Cows 103.5% 103.0% 101.7 – 105.1%

Milk Cows 100.1% 100.2% 99.9 – 100.5%

Calf Crop 102.3% 102.1% 101.0 – 104.1%

All Cattle on Feed 101.2% 98.8% 98.6 – 99.0%

NASS Estimates Compared to Trade 

Expectations Percent of Previous Year

January 29, 2016
85

90

95

100

2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

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

Million head

Year

January 29, 2016

All Cattle Inventory

First Estimate Versus Final Estimate

January 1, 2006 - 2016
14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

26%

28%

30%

32%

34%

1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

All Cow Heifer

Herd rebuilding 

Year

January 29, 2016

All Cow & Heifer Slaughter 

as a Percent of Total Slaughter

Percent of Slaughter
85

90

95

100

105

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

55%

1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Cow and Heifer % of Slaughter Cattle Inventory

Million head

Year

January 29, 2016

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 29, 2016

Item 2015

(1,000 head)

2016

(1,000 head)

% PY

Calves < 500 lbs 13,534 14,057 104

Steers & Other Heifers > 500 lbs 24,094 25,034 104

Total Supply 37,628 39,090 104

Cattle on Feed 13,025 13,177 101

Feeder Cattle Supply 24,603 25,913 105

Number Grazing on Small Grain Pasture, 

3 States

1,930 1,900 98

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
U.S. Sheep Revisions

January 29, 2016

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2015

All sheep and lambs 5,280 - 5,280

Lamb crop 3,440 - 3,440
U.S. Sheep and Lamb Inventory

January 1

Items 2015

(1,000 head)

2016

(1,000 head) % PY

All Sheep & Lambs 5,280 5,320 101

Market 1,345 1,355 101

Breeding 3,935 3,965 101

Replacement Lambs Under One Year Old 650 665 102

Ewes One Year Old and Older 3,110 3,125 100

Rams One Year Old and Older 175 175 100

Previous Year Lamb Crop 3,440 3,440 100

January 29, 2016

Totals may not add due to rounding
5

6

7

8

9

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

6.20

6.07

Million head

Year

January 29, 2016

U.S. Sheep and Lambs

January 1, 1996 - 2016

5.32

2005-06 Ewe Retention Program

5.25
U.S. Goats Revisions

January 29, 2016

Survey Item 

Initial 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

Current 

Revision

Current 

Estimate

(1,000 head)

January 1, 2015

All goats and kids 2,675 -25,000

-0.9% 2,650

Kid crop 1,714 - 1,714
U.S. Goat and Kid Inventory

January 1

Items 2015

(1,000 head)

2016

(1,000 head) % PY

All Goats & Kids 2,650 2,620 99

Market 462 459 99

Breeding 2,188 2,161 99

Replacement Kids Under One Year Old 390 391 100

Does One Year Old and Older 1,635 1,608 98

Bucks One Year Old and Older 164 163 99

Previous Year Kid Crop 1,714 1,677 98

January 29, 2016

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

January 1

Items 2015

(1,000 head)

2016

(1,000 head) % PY

Total Goats 2,650 2,620 99

Meat & Other 2,125 2,095 99

Milk 365 375 103

Angora 160 150 94

January 29, 2016

Totals may not add due to rounding
2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

ALL Meat & Other

2.62

2.10

2.65

2.61

3.12

2.13

2.11

Million head

Year

January 29, 2016

U.S. All Goats Inventory versus 

Meat and Other Goats Inventory

January 1, 2006 - 2016

2.59
Upcoming NASS Reports

Release Date Report Title

February 1 Cotton System

Fats & Oils

Flour Milling

Grain Crushings

February 5 Catfish Production

February 9 Crop Production

February 18 Farm & Land in Farms

February 19 Cattle on Feed

Milk Production

February 23 Cold Storage

Cold Storage - Annual

February 26 Trout Production

February 29 Agricultural Prices

January 29, 2016
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 29, 2016