USDA’s Cattle Inventory Report at 2 p.m. CT is expected to show the U.S. cattle herd as of Jan. 1 contracted 1.2% from year-ago, based on an Urner Barry survey. The beef cow inventory and the number of beef replacement heifers are both expected to be down 1.8%, which would signal the beef herd will continue to contract in the years ahead. The 2021 calf crop is expected to be down 0.9% from the previous year. The dairy cow herd is anticipated to have declined 0.4%, though dairy replacement heifers are expected to be up 0.2% from last year.
Cattle Inventory | Average estimate | Range of estimates |
All cattle/calves (Jan. 1) | 98.8 | 98.4-99.3 |
Cow/heifers that have calved | 98.6 | 98.3-98.9 |
Beef cows | 98.2 | 97.8-98.6 |
Dairy cows | 99.6 | 99.3-100.0 |
Heifers 500 lbs.+ | 99.2 | 98.4-99.6 |
Beef heifer replacements | 98.2 | 96.8-98.9 |
Dairy heifer replacements | 100.2 | 98.8-101.1 |
Other heifers | 99.3 | 98.8-99.9 |
Steers 500 lbs.+ | 98.7 | 98.1-99.6 |