July cattle inventory report shows numbers still down

The latest cattle inventory report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows the nation’s cattle herd is still shrinking.

All cattle and calves in the U.S. on July 1 totaled 94.2 million head, 1% below the 95.4 million head reported in July 2023. The cattle inventory report was compared to 2023 since last July’s report was cut.

“While the July inventory report does not include state breakdowns, the report does reflect what we’re seeing across the Lone Star State, which is some producers are thinking about and starting to retain heifers, while others are capitalizing on the record-high calf prices,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Affairs, said.

It’s the smallest beef cow herd on record and the lowest mid-year cattle inventory report since 2014, when herd rebuilding started following the drought in 2012.

All cows and heifers that have calved are estimated at 38.1 million head, down 1% from 2023.

Beef cows, at 28.7 million head, are down 1% from two years ago.

Milk cows, at 9.45 million head, are up 1% from 2023.

The inventory of beef replacement heifers over 500 pounds was estimated at 3.7 million head, down 3% from 2023, while other heifers were estimated down 3% at 7.4 million head.