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By Bernt Nelson, Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
USDA’s January Cattle Inventory report shed some much-needed light on the state of the cattle industry in the United States. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) previously published two semiannual reports on the total inventory of cattle and calves in the United States. In 2024, NASS cancelled the July report, removing critical transparency from the cattle markets. Market analysts, farmers and other stakeholders have been awaiting this report and the overdue information it contains.
Cattle Inventory
According to the report, all cattle and calves in the United States on Jan. 1, 2025, totaled 86.7 million head, down about 1% from 87.2 million in 2024. The inventory, along with nearly all other estimates in the report, fell within the range of analyst estimates. The decrease, while smaller than last year, indicates continued contraction in the U.S. cattle herd.
Beef cows that have calved totaled 27.9 million, down 1% from 2024 and a new record low (since 1965). Heifers for beef cow replacement were 4.67 million, down 1% from 2024. Heifers for beef cow replacement expected to calve were 2.92 million, down about 2%. Lower numbers for both beef cows that have calved and beef cows expected to calve provide additional evidence of continued herd contraction.
