The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released their annual Cattle Inventory Report. It shows the number of all cattle and calves in the U.S. as of January 1, 2022, was 91.9 million head, down 2 percent from the 93.8 million head on January 1, 2021.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 39.5 million head, were 2 percent below the 40.3 million head on January 1, 2021. Beef cows, at 30.1 million head, were down 2 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.38 million head, were down 1 percent from the previous year.
USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam notes a few of the numbers in the report were below industry expectations.
Here in the Southeast, all cattle and calves in Alabama totaled 1.26 million head; 3 percent lower than January 1, 2021. The Florida inventory decreased 4 percent from the previous year to 1.63 million head. All cattle and calves in Georgia totaled 1.05 million head, down 4 percent from 2021. South Carolina inventory, at 310,000 head, was down 6 percent from the previous year.