U.S. Cattle Herd Slightly Smaller One Year Later

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released their biannual report on the U.S. cattle herd. According to the report, the domestic herd, as of January 1, 2021, totaled 93.6 million head, slightly below the same time one year ago.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.6 million head, were slightly below the 40.7 million head at the beginning of 2020. Beef cows, at 31.2 million head, were down 1 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.44 million head, were up 1 percent from the previous year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2021 totaled 20.0 million head, slightly below the 20.0 million head on January 1, 2020. Beef
replacement heifers, at 5.81 million head, were up slightly from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.60 million head, were down 2 percent from the previous year. Other heifers, at 9.58 million head, were 1 percent above a year earlier.

The 2020 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 35.1 million head, down 1 percent from the previous year’s calf crop. Calves born during the
first half of 2020 were estimated at 25.8 million head, down 1 percent from the first half of 2019. Calves born during the second half of 2020 were
estimated at 9.39 million head, 27 percent of the total 2020 calf crop.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)