Alabama ranked ninth in the nation in the number of farms with beef cows during 2004. There are 25,000 farms in the state with one or more head of beef cows that have calved.

Beef cattle production in Alabama ranks third behind broilers and forestry in cash receipts from farm commodities.

The state's cattle producers sold more than $400 million in cattle last year.

Alabama producers had about 1.3 million head of cattle as of Jan. 1.

Alabama produces mostly calves that are shipped to feedlots in more than 12 states.

Cattle are produced in every county in Alabama. Cullman County leads the state with 68,000 head. DeKalb County is second with 64,000 head. Montgomery County is third with 50,000 head.