The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released their July 1 Cattle Inventory Report, and it shows all cattle and calves in the U.S. on July 1st totaled 98.8 million head, 2 percent below the 101 million head on July 1, 2021.
All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 39.8 million head, 2 percent below the 40.6 million head on July 1, 2021. Beef cows, at 30.4 million head, down 2 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.45 million head, down 1 percent from previous year.
According to a story from Gary Crawford, the new USDA report points to a continued reduction in the beef herd for some time to come.
USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam notes forage supplies from now and into the fall will be a major factor cattle producers will consider in making future expansion or contraction plans.
Also released by USDA Friday was the monthly U.S. Cattle on Feed Report. It shows cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head on July 1, 2022. The inventory was slightly above July 1, 2021.
It included 6.90 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.45 million head, up 3 percent from 2021.
Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.63 million head, 2 percent below 2021, while marketing’s of fed cattle during June totaled 2.06 million head, 2 percent above 2021.