U.S. Beef Cow Inventory Update – Jan ’18
According to USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report, the U.S. beef cow herd continued to expand throughout 2017, finishing at a nine year high. The report showed that as of January 1st, 2018, the total U.S. beef cow herd stood at 31.72 million head, up 510,000 head from the previous year. The beef cow herd increased 1.6% from the previous year, finishing higher for the fourth consecutive year.
Texas had the largest beef cow herd as of January 1st, 2018, followed by Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The aforementioned states accounted for over a third of the total national beef cow herd.
YOY increases in beef cow herd figures were led by South Dakota (+137,000 head), followed by Texas (+125,000 head) and Missouri (+111,000 head). Kansas (-63,000 head) experienced the largest reduction in their beef cow herd throughout the year.
The number of beef replacement heifers declined for the first time in the past seven years, finishing 3.7% below the 22 year high experienced throughout the previous year. Total beef replacement heifers of 6.13 million head finished at a three year low overall, down 237,000 head from the previous year. On a heifer replacement per beef cow basis, the 2018 figure of 0.193 finished at a four year low.
Texas had the largest number of beef heifer replacements as of January 1st, 2018, followed by South Dakota, Oklahoma, Montana and Nebraska. The aforementioned states accounted for over a third of the total U.S. beef heifer replacements.
YOY declines in beef heifer replacements were most significant within Montana (-35,000 head), followed by Kansas (-30,000 head), Oklahoma (-25,000 head) and Wyoming (-25,000 head). South Dakota (+40,000 head) experienced the largest increase in beef heifer replacements throughout the year.
Texas had the largest beef cow herd as of January 1st, 2018, followed by Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The aforementioned states accounted for over a third of the total national beef cow herd.
YOY increases in beef cow herd figures were led by South Dakota (+137,000 head), followed by Texas (+125,000 head) and Missouri (+111,000 head). Kansas (-63,000 head) experienced the largest reduction in their beef cow herd throughout the year.
The number of beef replacement heifers declined for the first time in the past seven years, finishing 3.7% below the 22 year high experienced throughout the previous year. Total beef replacement heifers of 6.13 million head finished at a three year low overall, down 237,000 head from the previous year. On a heifer replacement per beef cow basis, the 2018 figure of 0.193 finished at a four year low.
Texas had the largest number of beef heifer replacements as of January 1st, 2018, followed by South Dakota, Oklahoma, Montana and Nebraska. The aforementioned states accounted for over a third of the total U.S. beef heifer replacements.
YOY declines in beef heifer replacements were most significant within Montana (-35,000 head), followed by Kansas (-30,000 head), Oklahoma (-25,000 head) and Wyoming (-25,000 head). South Dakota (+40,000 head) experienced the largest increase in beef heifer replacements throughout the year.