USDA Confirms Cattle Herd Contraction in Inventory Report

WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, the government confirmed that the U.S. cattle herd is shrinking as USDA estimated the total domestic cattle inventory at 98.8 million head, a reduction of two percent year over year.

In addition, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) projected the current calf crop at 34.6 million head, also down one percent from the same time in 2021, with just over a third to born during the second half of the year (fall calving).

The contraction of the herd is attributed to drought conditions west of the Mississippi River, including in Texas, where both placements and marketings of fed beef cattle increased at least two percent from last year.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)