For the next couple of weeks, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey about 40,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories.
This will include producers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, as they will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed information.
“This information helps producers make timely, informed business decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction. It also helps packers and government leaders evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export,” said Southern Regional Director Anthony Prillaman. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as an important decision-making tool for the entire agriculture industry.”
To make it as convenient as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding via the Internet, telephone, or mail. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only aggregate level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
The January Cattle report will be released on January 31, 2025.