All cattle and calves in Michigan as of January 1,  were 1,150 thousand head, up 2.7% from last year, according to the USDA, NASS, Great Lakes Regional Office. Michigan highlights from the January 1 report follow:

•Beef cow numbers increased 10% to 118,000. Beef replacement heifers increased 17% to 27,000 head.
•Milk cows increased 2% to 412,000 head. Heifers for milk cow replacement increased 3% to 172,000 head.
•The 2015 calf crop was 400,000 head, up 4% from 2014.

Michigan’s cattle inventory rises

Nationally, all cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, totaled 92 million head, 3% above the 89.1 million on January 1, 2015. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 39.6 million, were up 3% from the 38.6 million on January 1, 2015. Beef cows, at 30.3 million, were up 4% from January 1, 2015. Milk cows, at 9.32 million, were up slightly from January 1, 2015. Other class estimates on January 1, 2016 and the change from January 1, 2015, follow: All heifers 500 pounds and over, 19.8 million, up 3%; Beef replacement heifers, 6.29 million, up 3%; milk replacement heifers, 4.82 million, up 2%.