Cattle ISSN: 1948-9099 Released January 30, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). January 1 Cattle Inventory Down Slightly All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2026 totaled 86.2 million head, slightly below the 86.5 million head on January 1, 2025. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 37.2 million head, were slightly below the 37.3 million head on January 1, 2025. Beef cows, at 27.6 million head, were down 1 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.57 million head, were up 2 percent from the previous year. All heifers 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2026 totaled 18.0 million head, 1 percent below the 18.1 million head on January 1, 2025. Beef replacement heifers, at 4.71 million head, were up 1 percent from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 3.90 million head, were down slightly from the previous year. Other heifers, at 9.40 million head, were 2 percent below a year earlier. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2026 totaled 15.6 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2025. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2026 totaled 2.01 million head, up slightly from January 1, 2025. Calves under 500 pounds as of January 1, 2026 totaled 13.3 million head, down slightly from January 1, 2025. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.8 million head on January 1, 2026. The inventory is down 3 percent from the January 1, 2025 total of 14.3 million head. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 82.7 percent of the total cattle on feed on January 1, 2026, up slightly from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots), at 24.5 million head, was 1 percent above January 1, 2025. Calf Crop Down 2 Percent The 2025 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 32.9 million head, down 2 percent from the previous year's calf crop. Calves born during the first half of 2025 were estimated at 24.2 million head, down 2 percent from the first half of 2024. Calves born during the second half of 2025 were estimated at 8.70 million head, 26 percent of the total 2025 calf crop. Revisions All inventory and calf crop estimates for January 1, 2025 and July 1, 2025 were reviewed using calf crop, official slaughter, import and export data, and the relationship of new survey information to the prior surveys. Based on the findings of this review, 2024 calf crop decreased by 0.3 percent. January 1, 2025 all cattle and calves decreased by 0.2 percent and all cows and heifers that have calved increased by 0.2 percent. State level estimates were reviewed and changes were made to reallocate inventory estimates to the United States total. This report was approved on January 30, 2026. Secretary of Agriculture Designate Brooke Appleton Agricultural Statistics Board Chairperson Lance Honig Contents Cattle Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026.. 4 All Cattle and Calves Inventory - United States: January 1......................... 4 Cattle Inventory by Class - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026..... 5 Calf Crop - States and United States: 2024 and 2025................................ 9 All Cattle on Feed Inventory - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026.. 10 Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pasture - 3-State Total: January 1, 2025 and 2026.... 11 Cattle Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States: July 1, 2024 and 2025..... 11 Calf Crop by Six Month Period - United States: 2024 and 2025....................... 11 Statistical Methodology............................................................ 12 Reliability of January 1 Cattle Estimates.......................................... 13 Information Contacts............................................................... 13 Cattle Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Class : 2025 : 2026 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 head ----- percent : All cattle and calves ...................: 86,472.2 86,155.3 100 : All cows and heifers that have calved ...: 37,272.8 37,175.5 100 Beef cows .............................: 27,892.0 27,607.2 99 Milk cows .............................: 9,380.8 9,568.3 102 : All heifers 500 pounds and over .........: 18,129.9 18,016.7 99 For beef cow replacement ..............: 4,672.5 4,714.2 101 Expected to calve 1/ ................: 2,920.8 2,962.8 101 For milk cow replacement ..............: 3,915.3 3,904.6 100 Expected to calve 1/ ................: 2,500.8 2,497.5 100 Other heifers .........................: 9,542.1 9,397.9 98 : Steers 500 pounds and over ..............: 15,697.4 15,601.4 99 Bulls 500 pounds and over ...............: 2,009.0 2,014.7 100 Calves under 500 pounds .................: 13,363.1 13,347.0 100 : All cattle on feed ......................: 14,322.8 13,847.9 97 : :-------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of : 2024 : 2025 :previous year :-------------------------------------------- Calf crop ...............................: 33,416.5 32,895.6 98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Replacement heifers expected to calve during the year. Cattle Inventory by Class - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : All cattle and calves : All cows and heifers that have calved :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : Percent of : : : Percent of : 2025 : 2026 :previous year : 2025 : 2026 :previous year --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 head ----- percent ------ 1,000 head ----- percent : Alabama .......: 1,180.0 1,200.0 102 650.0 650.0 100 Alaska ........: 20.0 19.0 95 8.5 8.5 100 Arizona .......: 930.0 870.0 94 360.0 355.0 99 Arkansas ......: 1,560.0 1,560.0 100 850.0 850.0 100 California ....: 5,050.0 5,050.0 100 2,340.0 2,350.0 100 Colorado ......: 2,550.0 2,550.0 100 810.0 830.0 102 Connecticut ...: 45.0 44.0 98 23.0 23.0 100 Delaware ......: 10.5 10.5 100 4.1 4.2 102 Florida .......: 1,560.0 1,580.0 101 960.0 970.0 101 Georgia .......: 980.0 970.0 99 540.0 530.0 98 : Hawaii ........: 133.0 135.0 102 74.0 75.0 101 Idaho .........: 2,490.0 2,500.0 100 1,130.0 1,160.0 103 Illinois ......: 1,010.0 980.0 97 410.0 400.0 98 Indiana .......: 800.0 820.0 103 380.0 390.0 103 Iowa ..........: 3,500.0 3,450.0 99 1,070.0 1,060.0 99 Kansas ........: 5,950.0 5,850.0 98 1,410.0 1,370.0 97 Kentucky ......: 1,840.0 1,820.0 99 910.0 900.0 99 Louisiana .....: 720.0 680.0 94 425.0 405.0 95 Maine .........: 73.0 71.0 97 35.0 34.0 97 Maryland ......: 154.0 155.0 101 75.0 76.0 101 : Massachusetts .: 31.0 30.0 97 15.0 15.0 100 Michigan ......: 1,110.0 1,120.0 101 540.0 560.0 104 Minnesota .....: 2,090.0 2,100.0 100 780.0 810.0 104 Mississippi ...: 810.0 800.0 99 430.0 420.0 98 Missouri ......: 3,950.0 3,850.0 97 1,920.0 1,860.0 97 Montana .......: 2,160.0 2,140.0 99 1,260.0 1,240.0 98 Nebraska ......: 6,050.0 6,150.0 102 1,620.0 1,610.0 99 Nevada ........: 435.0 420.0 97 265.0 255.0 96 New Hampshire .: 28.0 28.0 100 13.5 14.0 104 New Jersey ....: 24.0 24.0 100 12.0 12.0 100 : New Mexico ....: 1,280.0 1,190.0 93 690.0 660.0 96 New York ......: 1,410.0 1,390.0 99 730.0 750.0 103 North Carolina : 720.0 690.0 96 370.0 350.0 95 North Dakota ..: 1,680.0 1,730.0 103 880.0 900.0 102 Ohio ..........: 1,240.0 1,230.0 99 530.0 530.0 100 Oklahoma ......: 4,600.0 4,650.0 101 2,000.0 2,010.0 101 Oregon ........: 1,230.0 1,210.0 98 630.0 620.0 98 Pennsylvania ..: 1,370.0 1,400.0 102 660.0 660.0 100 Rhode Island ..: 3.7 3.8 103 1.7 1.8 106 South Carolina : 295.0 280.0 95 157.0 147.0 94 : South Dakota ..: 3,500.0 3,550.0 101 1,670.0 1,690.0 101 Tennessee .....: 1,570.0 1,560.0 99 850.0 840.0 99 Texas .........: 12,100.0 12,100.0 100 4,750.0 4,750.0 100 Utah ..........: 740.0 760.0 103 410.0 425.0 104 Vermont .......: 215.0 220.0 102 126.0 128.0 102 Virginia ......: 1,320.0 1,320.0 100 640.0 640.0 100 Washington ....: 1,120.0 1,120.0 100 465.0 455.0 98 West Virginia .: 365.0 365.0 100 193.0 192.0 99 Wisconsin .....: 3,250.0 3,250.0 100 1,540.0 1,560.0 101 Wyoming .......: 1,220.0 1,160.0 95 660.0 630.0 95 : United States .: 86,472.2 86,155.3 100 37,272.8 37,175.5 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --continued Cattle Inventory by Class - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Beef cows that have calved : Milk cows that have calved :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : Percent of : : : Percent of : 2025 : 2026 :previous year : 2025 : 2026 :previous year ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 head ----- percent ----- 1,000 head ----- percent : Alabama ........: 648.0 648.0 100 2.0 2.0 100 Arizona ........: 171.0 160.0 94 189.0 195.0 103 Arkansas .......: 848.0 848.0 100 2.0 2.0 100 California .....: 630.0 640.0 102 1,710.0 1,710.0 100 Colorado .......: 605.0 620.0 102 205.0 210.0 102 Florida ........: 865.0 872.0 101 95.0 98.0 103 Georgia ........: 455.0 441.0 97 85.0 89.0 105 Idaho ..........: 430.0 435.0 101 700.0 725.0 104 Illinois .......: 333.0 324.0 97 77.0 76.0 99 Iowa ...........: 825.0 815.0 99 245.0 245.0 100 : Kansas .........: 1,230.0 1,145.0 93 180.0 225.0 125 Kentucky .......: 869.0 862.0 99 41.0 38.0 93 Michigan .......: 95.0 100.0 105 445.0 460.0 103 Minnesota ......: 340.0 355.0 104 440.0 455.0 103 Missouri .......: 1,864.0 1,806.0 97 56.0 54.0 96 Montana ........: 1,252.0 1,232.0 98 8.0 8.0 100 Nebraska .......: 1,572.0 1,560.0 99 48.0 50.0 104 New Mexico .....: 450.0 430.0 96 240.0 230.0 96 New York .......: 100.0 100.0 100 630.0 650.0 103 North Dakota ...: 870.0 891.0 102 10.0 9.0 90 : Ohio ...........: 280.0 275.0 98 250.0 255.0 102 Oklahoma .......: 1,959.0 1,966.0 100 41.0 44.0 107 Oregon .........: 514.0 500.0 97 116.0 120.0 103 Pennsylvania ...: 195.0 205.0 105 465.0 455.0 98 South Dakota ...: 1,455.0 1,450.0 100 215.0 240.0 112 Tennessee ......: 826.0 818.0 99 24.0 22.0 92 Texas ..........: 4,075.0 4,045.0 99 675.0 705.0 104 Virginia .......: 574.0 575.0 100 66.0 65.0 98 Washington .....: 210.0 220.0 105 255.0 235.0 92 Wisconsin ......: 275.0 275.0 100 1,265.0 1,285.0 102 : Wyoming ........: 651.0 621.0 95 9.0 9.0 100 : Other States 1/ : 2,426.0 2,373.2 98 591.8 602.3 102 : United States ..: 27,892.0 27,607.2 99 9,380.8 9,568.3 102 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --continued Cattle Inventory by Class - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : All heifers 500 pounds and over :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Beef cow replacement : Milk cow replacement : Other :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Alabama ........: 95.0 97.0 2.0 2.0 38.0 46.0 Arizona ........: 27.0 23.0 130.0 120.0 33.0 27.0 Arkansas .......: 110.0 110.0 2.0 2.0 68.0 68.0 California .....: 100.0 100.0 690.0 700.0 250.0 240.0 Colorado .......: 110.0 110.0 120.0 120.0 600.0 600.0 Florida ........: 115.0 115.0 25.0 25.0 20.0 25.0 Georgia ........: 85.0 85.0 20.0 19.0 28.0 27.0 Idaho ..........: 90.0 90.0 305.0 310.0 245.0 240.0 Illinois .......: 45.0 47.0 30.0 34.0 95.0 89.0 Iowa ...........: 110.0 110.0 110.0 120.0 500.0 500.0 : Kansas .........: 190.0 190.0 140.0 140.0 1,480.0 1,390.0 Kentucky .......: 105.0 110.0 25.0 25.0 130.0 120.0 Michigan .......: 25.0 25.0 126.0 122.0 39.0 38.0 Minnesota ......: 70.0 75.0 165.0 155.0 175.0 160.0 Missouri .......: 260.0 250.0 25.0 25.0 255.0 245.0 Montana ........: 305.0 310.0 4.0 5.0 201.0 200.0 Nebraska .......: 275.0 280.0 25.0 30.0 1,480.0 1,500.0 New Mexico .....: 70.0 60.0 105.0 90.0 65.0 70.0 New York .......: 38.0 35.0 320.0 300.0 37.0 35.0 North Dakota ...: 158.0 164.0 7.0 6.0 195.0 200.0 : Ohio ...........: 60.0 50.0 105.0 105.0 60.0 65.0 Oklahoma .......: 340.0 345.0 20.0 20.0 440.0 435.0 Oregon .........: 100.0 90.0 45.0 45.0 120.0 115.0 Pennsylvania ...: 45.0 50.0 200.0 210.0 55.0 65.0 South Dakota ...: 315.0 315.0 25.0 25.0 460.0 460.0 Tennessee ......: 100.0 105.0 15.0 15.0 65.0 65.0 Texas ..........: 600.0 650.0 220.0 240.0 1,680.0 1,660.0 Virginia .......: 83.0 88.0 35.0 33.0 62.0 64.0 Washington .....: 45.0 45.0 115.0 115.0 150.0 150.0 Wisconsin ......: 65.0 65.0 510.0 500.0 105.0 95.0 : Wyoming ........: 125.0 120.0 6.0 6.0 139.0 129.0 : Other States 1/ : 411.5 405.2 243.3 240.6 272.1 274.9 : United States ..: 4,672.5 4,714.2 3,915.3 3,904.6 9,542.1 9,397.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --continued Cattle Inventory by Class - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers : Bulls : Calves : 500 pounds and over : 500 pounds and over : under 500 pounds State :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Alabama ........: 50.0 51.0 45.0 44.0 300.0 310.0 Arizona ........: 245.0 220.0 20.0 15.0 115.0 110.0 Arkansas .......: 110.0 105.0 55.0 55.0 365.0 370.0 California .....: 600.0 600.0 60.0 60.0 1,010.0 1,000.0 Colorado .......: 760.0 730.0 40.0 40.0 110.0 120.0 Florida ........: 30.0 25.0 50.0 50.0 360.0 370.0 Georgia ........: 37.0 35.0 30.0 29.0 240.0 245.0 Idaho ..........: 300.0 300.0 40.0 40.0 380.0 360.0 Illinois .......: 240.0 225.0 20.0 20.0 170.0 165.0 Iowa ...........: 1,180.0 1,140.0 60.0 50.0 470.0 470.0 : Kansas .........: 2,050.0 2,090.0 80.0 80.0 600.0 590.0 Kentucky .......: 205.0 200.0 60.0 55.0 405.0 410.0 Michigan .......: 157.0 155.0 13.0 15.0 210.0 205.0 Minnesota ......: 455.0 470.0 30.0 30.0 415.0 400.0 Missouri .......: 400.0 400.0 110.0 110.0 980.0 960.0 Montana ........: 220.0 215.0 95.0 95.0 75.0 75.0 Nebraska .......: 2,270.0 2,320.0 80.0 90.0 300.0 320.0 New Mexico .....: 115.0 100.0 30.0 30.0 205.0 180.0 New York .......: 41.0 40.0 19.0 20.0 225.0 210.0 North Dakota ...: 270.0 290.0 55.0 55.0 115.0 115.0 : Ohio ...........: 215.0 215.0 25.0 25.0 245.0 240.0 Oklahoma .......: 810.0 810.0 150.0 160.0 840.0 870.0 Oregon .........: 165.0 160.0 40.0 40.0 130.0 140.0 Pennsylvania ...: 160.0 155.0 20.0 20.0 230.0 240.0 South Dakota ...: 690.0 710.0 100.0 100.0 240.0 250.0 Tennessee ......: 100.0 110.0 55.0 55.0 385.0 370.0 Texas ..........: 2,520.0 2,450.0 320.0 330.0 2,010.0 2,020.0 Virginia .......: 148.0 148.0 37.0 37.0 315.0 310.0 Washington .....: 205.0 210.0 17.0 18.0 123.0 127.0 Wisconsin ......: 360.0 360.0 30.0 30.0 640.0 640.0 : Wyoming ........: 170.0 155.0 35.0 35.0 85.0 85.0 : Other States 1/ : 419.4 407.4 188.0 181.7 1,070.1 1,070.0 : United States ..: 15,697.4 15,601.4 2,009.0 2,014.7 13,363.1 13,347.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes data for States not published in this table. Calf Crop - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of State : 2024 : 2025 : previous year ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------- 1,000 head -------- percent : Alabama ................................: 560.0 570.0 102 Alaska .................................: 6.0 6.0 100 Arizona ................................: 285.0 265.0 93 Arkansas ...............................: 750.0 740.0 99 California .............................: 1,900.0 1,900.0 100 Colorado ...............................: 750.0 750.0 100 Connecticut ............................: 17.5 17.0 97 Delaware ...............................: 3.5 3.5 100 Florida ................................: 770.0 780.0 101 Georgia ................................: 470.0 480.0 102 : Hawaii .................................: 59.0 60.0 102 Idaho ..................................: 950.0 970.0 102 Illinois ...............................: 355.0 340.0 96 Indiana ................................: 340.0 345.0 101 Iowa ...................................: 1,020.0 1,000.0 98 Kansas .................................: 1,300.0 1,230.0 95 Kentucky ...............................: 890.0 860.0 97 Louisiana ..............................: 325.0 320.0 98 Maine ..................................: 27.0 26.0 96 Maryland ...............................: 60.0 61.0 102 : Massachusetts ..........................: 13.0 12.0 92 Michigan ...............................: 400.0 400.0 100 Minnesota ..............................: 760.0 750.0 99 Mississippi ............................: 345.0 345.0 100 Missouri ...............................: 1,770.0 1,740.0 98 Montana ................................: 1,240.0 1,210.0 98 Nebraska ...............................: 1,510.0 1,500.0 99 Nevada .................................: 220.0 210.0 95 New Hampshire ..........................: 10.0 10.5 105 New Jersey .............................: 9.0 9.0 100 : New Mexico .............................: 550.0 520.0 95 New York ...............................: 560.0 550.0 98 North Carolina .........................: 340.0 325.0 96 North Dakota ...........................: 850.0 860.0 101 Ohio ...................................: 480.0 465.0 97 Oklahoma ...............................: 1,840.0 1,840.0 100 Oregon .................................: 580.0 560.0 97 Pennsylvania ...........................: 530.0 530.0 100 Rhode Island ...........................: 1.5 1.6 107 South Carolina .........................: 134.0 125.0 93 : South Dakota ...........................: 1,620.0 1,570.0 97 Tennessee ..............................: 820.0 800.0 98 Texas ..................................: 4,350.0 4,250.0 98 Utah ...................................: 360.0 365.0 101 Vermont ................................: 95.0 96.0 101 Virginia ...............................: 610.0 590.0 97 Washington .............................: 405.0 395.0 98 West Virginia ..........................: 186.0 183.0 98 Wisconsin ..............................: 1,370.0 1,370.0 100 Wyoming ................................: 620.0 590.0 95 : United States ..........................: 33,416.5 32,895.6 98 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Cattle on Feed Inventory - States and United States: January 1, 2025 and 2026 [Cattle and calves on feed are steers and heifers being fed a ration of grain, silage, hay, and/or protein supplement for slaughter market that are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. It excludes cattle being "backgrounded only" for later sale as feeders or later placement in another feedlot. Cattle and calves on feed are included in the cattle inventory estimates by class] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of State : 2025 : 2026 : previous year ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------- 1,000 head -------- percent : Arizona ................................: 235.0 212.0 90 California .............................: 520.0 500.0 96 Colorado ...............................: 1,080.0 920.0 85 Idaho ..................................: 340.0 355.0 104 Illinois ...............................: 250.0 220.0 88 Iowa ...................................: 1,210.0 1,180.0 98 Kansas .................................: 2,510.0 2,480.0 99 Michigan ...............................: 145.0 135.0 93 Minnesota ..............................: 370.0 350.0 95 Nebraska ...............................: 2,700.0 2,800.0 104 : Ohio ...................................: 150.0 160.0 107 Oklahoma ...............................: 365.0 330.0 90 South Dakota ...........................: 440.0 435.0 99 Texas ..................................: 2,800.0 2,540.0 91 Washington .............................: 260.0 275.0 106 Wisconsin ..............................: 230.0 240.0 104 : Other States 1/ ........................: 717.8 715.9 100 : United States ..........................: 14,322.8 13,847.9 97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes data for States not published in this table. Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pasture - 3-State Total: January 1, 2025 and 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of States : 2025 : 2026 : previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 head ----- percent : Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas .......: 1,550.0 1,730.0 112 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States: July 1, 2024 and 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Class : 2024 1/ : 2025 :previous year ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 head ----- percent : All cattle and calves ..................: (NA) 93,900.0 (X) : All cows and heifers that have calved ..: (NA) 38,000.0 (X) Beef cows ............................: (NA) 28,550.0 (X) Milk cows ............................: (NA) 9,450.0 (X) : All heifers 500 pounds and over ........: (NA) 14,600.0 (X) For beef cow replacement .............: (NA) 3,700.0 (X) For milk cow replacement .............: (NA) 3,500.0 (X) Other heifers ........................: (NA) 7,400.0 (X) : Steers 500 pounds and over .............: (NA) 13,800.0 (X) Bulls 500 pounds and over ..............: (NA) 1,900.0 (X) Calves under 500 pounds ................: (NA) 25,600.0 (X) : All cattle on feed .....................: (NA) 13,000.0 (X) : Calf crop ..............................: 33,416.5 32,895.6 98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. (X) Not applicable. 1/ The July 2024 Cattle report was not conducted due to reduced funding. Calf Crop by Six Month Period - United States: 2024 and 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2024 : 2025 :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Period : : Percent of : : Percent of : Number : total : Number : total ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head percent 1,000 head percent : January 1 - June 30 .: 24,600.0 73.6 24,200.0 73.6 July 1 - December 31 : 8,816.5 26.4 8,695.6 26.4 : Total ...............: 33,416.5 100.0 32,895.6 100.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: A random sample of United States producers were surveyed to provide data for these estimates. Survey procedures ensured that all cattle producers, regardless of size, had a chance to be included in the survey. Large producers were sampled more heavily than small operations. Data were collected from about 35,000 operators during the first half of January by mail, telephone, internet, and face-to-face personal interviews and 52 percent of the reports were usable. Regardless of when operators responded, they were asked to report inventories as of January 1. Estimating Procedures: These cattle estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations and analysis submitted by Regional Field Offices. National and State survey data were reviewed for reasonableness with each other and with estimates from the previous year using a balance sheet. The balance sheet begins with the previous inventory estimate, adds estimates of births and imports, and subtracts estimates of slaughter, exports, and deaths. This indicated ending inventory level is compared to the Agricultural Statistics Board estimate for reasonableness. Revision Policy: Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve year to year and item to item relationships. Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when current estimates are made. The reviews are primarily based on livestock slaughter and additional foreign trade and survey data. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the five-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date. Reliability: Since all cattle operators are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. To assist users in evaluating the reliability of estimates in this report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table on the following page. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and latest estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for all cattle and calves inventory estimates over the past 10 years is 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 86.2 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 percent. The table on the following page shows a 10-year record of the range of differences between first and latest estimates for selected items. Using estimates of all cattle and calves as an example, changes between the first inventory estimate and the latest estimate during the past 10 years have averaged 190,000 head, ranging from 0 to 620,000 head. During this period the initial inventory estimate has been above the latest estimate 5 times and below the latest estimate 4 times. This does not imply that the January 1 estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory. Reliability of January 1 Cattle Estimates [Based on data for the past 10 years] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Years : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent ------ 1,000 head ----- ----- number ---- : All cattle and calves ...................: 0.3 0.5 190 0 620 4 5 : All cows and heifers that have calved ...: 0.4 0.7 127 16 315 3 7 : Calf crop ...............................: 0.6 1.1 145 20 468 2 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch................................................ (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter............................................. (202) 690-8632 Tiffany Byrne - Dairy Products...................................................... (651) 440-7789 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed................................................. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production......................................................... (202) 720-3278 Fatema Haque - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Trout................. (202) 690-3237 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs...................................................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats.. (202) 720-4448 Shulonda Shaw - Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage................... (202) 720-3240 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs......................................................... (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery................................. (202) 720-6147 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. The national specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Economics, Statistics, and Market Information (ESMIS) - National Agricultural Library (NAL) website houses NASS's and other agency archived reports at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. To receive the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the website, create a new account and subscribe to the reports. You should whitelist notifications@esmis.nal.usda.gov in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@usda.gov. If you have specific questions you would like an expert to respond to, please visit our "Ask A Specialist" website at www.nass.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Ask_a_Specialist. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690- 7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.