Farm Progress

Farm Progress America, Feb. 4, 2025Farm Progress America, Feb. 4, 2025

Mike Pearson takes a look at the shrinking cattle supply in the USA.

February 4, 2025

Mike Pearson takes a look at the Cattle Inventory Report released by the USDA and what it says about the cattle industry.

The Cattle Inventory Report confirms the cattle number continued to shrink in 2024.

The total cattle inventory sits at 86.7 million as of Jan. 1, down half a million from 2024.

This is the lowest number of cattle in herd since 1951- which includes both beef and dairy cattle.

Beef cattle are reported to be 27.9 million, down 100,000 from Jan. 2024.

There are currently 9.35 million in the dairy head which is a tad bit higher than Jan. 2024.

When it comes to replacement animals, there are 4.67 beef heifers in the herd- down also from last year and milk replacement heifers are also down.

The number of steers in the herd also continued to shrink 1 percent to 15.8 million head.

In the 2024 calf crop, there were 33.5 million which is lower than in 2023.

Prices are continuing to increase due to the lower cattle supply.

Cow-calf producers continue to sell off feeder cattle rather than keep heifers.

Producers continue to have concerns about higher interest rates, higher operational costs and drought which are keeping them cautious.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.

Related:Farm Progress America, Feb. 14 2025

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