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USDA Cattle report shows increases in both beef and dairy numbers.

February 8, 2016

1 Min Read

USDA’s Jan. 29 Cattle report shows the U.S. cattle herd continues to rebuild from its 2014 lows.

All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled 92 million head, up 3% from a year earlier. Likewise, all cows and heifers that have calved is up 3%, from 38.6 million head on Jan. 1, 2015, to 39.6 million head on Jan. 1, 2016.

Beef cows are up 4% from a year ago at 30.3 million head and milk cows are up slightly to 9.32 million head.

Beef replacement heifers are up 3%, at 6.29 million head. Dairy replacement heifers are up 2% to 4.82 million head. Other heifers, at 8.71 million head, are 3% higher than a year ago.

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All calves less than 500 pounds totaled 14.1 million head, up 4% from a year earlier. Steers weighing 500 pounds or more was also up 4% to 16.3 million head.

The 2015 calf crop was estimated at 34.3 million head, up 2% from last year’s calf crop.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter totaled 13.2 million head on Jan. 1. That is up 1% from a year earlier.

Source: USDA Cattle report

Related story:

The Cattle Site: Robust U.S. beef expansion will slow

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