US Cattle Herd at low levels

[Melensdad]

No wonder beef prices are so high!

https://texasfarmbureau.org/texas-cattle-herd-grows-slightly-u-s-numbers-drop/

Texas cattle herd grows slightly, U.S. numbers drop​

By Julie Tomascik
Editor​

​

The latest cattle inventory report shows the Texas cattle herd grew slightly since January 2024, but the overall U.S. herd remains near record low numbers.​

​

In Texas, there were 12.2 million head of cattle, up 2% from last year.​

​

There were 86.7 million head of cattle and calves in the U.S., down 1% from last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual cattle report.​

​

“Ranchers are faced with tough decisions—retain heifers and rebuild their herds or sell at the higher prices,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said. “The next few years should bring good opportunities to Texas ranchers, but input costs and drought conditions still remain a concern.”​

​

Texas cattle numbers
At 12.2 million head, Texas continues to rank first in the nation in the total number of cattle and calves, accounting for 14% of the total U.S. inventory.​

​

The total inventory of all cows that calved in Texas was 4.75 million head, 2% above last year’s total.​

​

Beef cows, at 4.08 million head, were up 1% from a year ago.​

​

Milk cows were up in Texas. There are 675,000 head, up 40,000 head from last year.​

​

Inventory of all heifers 500 pounds and over in Texas totaled 2.54 million on Jan. 1, up slightly from 2024. Beef replacement heifers, at 600,000 head, is 6% lower than from 2024. Milk replacement heifers totaled 220,000 head, down 4% from last year​

​

Texas inventory of steers 500 pounds and over totaled 2.57 million head, up 2% from​

​

last year. Inventory of calves less than 500 pounds, at 2.02 million head, is up 1% from last year’s total.​

​

The 2024 calf crop totaled 4.35 million head, 2% higher than the 2023 calf crop.​

​

U.S. cattle numbers
USDA’s cattle inventory report also showed all cows and heifers that have calved were down slightly to 37.2 million.​

​

Beef cows, at 27.9 million head, were down 1% from a year ago.​

​

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1 totaled 18.2 million head, 1% below the 18.3 million head last year. Beef replacement heifers, at 4.67 million head, were down 1% from a year ago.​

​

Other heifers were down 1%, totaling 9.59 million head.​

​

Milk cows, at 9.35 million head, were up slightly from the previous year. Milk replacement heifers were also down from last year, totaling 3.91 million head.​

​

Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over were down slightly. They totaled 2.01 million head on Jan. 1.​

​

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1 totaled 15.8 million head, a 1% drop from last year.​

​

Cattle on feed
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for all feedlots totaled 14.3 million head. That’s down from last year’s 14.4 million total.​

​

Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 82.7% of the total cattle on feed, up slightly from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots), at 24.6 million head, was slightly below last year’s total.​

​

U.S. calf crop​

​

The 2024 calf crop in the U.S. was estimated at 33.5 million head.​

​

Calves born during the first half of 2024 were estimated at 24.6 million head, down slightly from this time last year.​

​

Calves born during the second half of 2024 were estimated at 8.93 million head, making 27% of the total 2024 calf crop.​

 

[bczoom]

Cattle prices have more than doubled in the last 5 years. The farmer I get my beef from has scaled back since he doesn't know if he buy, raise and sell his beef and even break even anymore.
Click on the link and see 5 year historical as well as forecast futures which are going up.

Live Cattle - Price - Chart - Historical Data - News

Live Cattle increased 9.36 USd/Lbs or 4.88% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Live Cattle - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on February of 2025.

tradingeconomics.com

 

[300 H and H]

No wonder beef prices are so high!

https://texasfarmbureau.org/texas-cattle-herd-grows-slightly-u-s-numbers-drop/

Texas cattle herd grows slightly, U.S. numbers drop​

By Julie Tomascik​

Editor​

​

The latest cattle inventory report shows the Texas cattle herd grew slightly since January 2024, but the overall U.S. herd remains near record low numbers.​

​

In Texas, there were 12.2 million head of cattle, up 2% from last year.​

​

There were 86.7 million head of cattle and calves in the U.S., down 1% from last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual cattle report.​

​

“Ranchers are faced with tough decisions—retain heifers and rebuild their herds or sell at the higher prices,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said. “The next few years should bring good opportunities to Texas ranchers, but input costs and drought conditions still remain a concern.”​

​

Texas cattle numbers​

At 12.2 million head, Texas continues to rank first in the nation in the total number of cattle and calves, accounting for 14% of the total U.S. inventory.​

​

The total inventory of all cows that calved in Texas was 4.75 million head, 2% above last year’s total.​

​

Beef cows, at 4.08 million head, were up 1% from a year ago.​

​

Milk cows were up in Texas. There are 675,000 head, up 40,000 head from last year.​

​

Inventory of all heifers 500 pounds and over in Texas totaled 2.54 million on Jan. 1, up slightly from 2024. Beef replacement heifers, at 600,000 head, is 6% lower than from 2024. Milk replacement heifers totaled 220,000 head, down 4% from last year​

​

Texas inventory of steers 500 pounds and over totaled 2.57 million head, up 2% from​

​

last year. Inventory of calves less than 500 pounds, at 2.02 million head, is up 1% from last year’s total.​

​

The 2024 calf crop totaled 4.35 million head, 2% higher than the 2023 calf crop.​

​

U.S. cattle numbers​

USDA’s cattle inventory report also showed all cows and heifers that have calved were down slightly to 37.2 million.​

​

Beef cows, at 27.9 million head, were down 1% from a year ago.​

​

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1 totaled 18.2 million head, 1% below the 18.3 million head last year. Beef replacement heifers, at 4.67 million head, were down 1% from a year ago.​

​

Other heifers were down 1%, totaling 9.59 million head.​

​

Milk cows, at 9.35 million head, were up slightly from the previous year. Milk replacement heifers were also down from last year, totaling 3.91 million head.​

​

Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over were down slightly. They totaled 2.01 million head on Jan. 1.​

​

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1 totaled 15.8 million head, a 1% drop from last year.​

​

Cattle on feed​

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for all feedlots totaled 14.3 million head. That’s down from last year’s 14.4 million total.​

​

Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 82.7% of the total cattle on feed, up slightly from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots), at 24.6 million head, was slightly below last year’s total.​

​

U.S. calf crop​

​

The 2024 calf crop in the U.S. was estimated at 33.5 million head.​

​

Calves born during the first half of 2024 were estimated at 24.6 million head, down slightly from this time last year.​

​

Calves born during the second half of 2024 were estimated at 8.93 million head, making 27% of the total 2024 calf crop.​

This is often talked about in farm country. Since the drought in the SW around 2012 the cow numbers have been falling.

Much of the blame lays on the 3 packers that control 85% of the supply. They buy cattle at off CME prices by contracting with large feedlots for their production. This keeps the production line in motion, and smaller producers get paid substantial less in many cases for cattle bought on the open market. The huge players make out while the rest are just surviving. Then of course is the retailer's margin that is quite high, but it is perishable product with a not so long shelf life.

Ranch numbers are falling has BLM has eliminated a lot of range land the used to house cattle in the Western States. For the drought years feed prices went up as well, another bolder in the path...

Until the mid 90's we had a 50 head herd here. Then the farm situation changed, and I discovered I could do something more profitable that would have made keeping them difficult. Currently we are rebuilding our herd of stock cows just by retaining the heifer calves.

The long and short of it is the big boys with outside the public market agreements are doing quite well. The small and medium sized producers are getting a very short end of the stick.

 

[Melensdad]

This is often talked about in farm country. Since the drought in the SW around 2012 the cow numbers have been falling.

Much of the blame lays on the 3 packers that control 85% of the supply. They buy cattle at off CME prices by contracting with large feedlots for their production. This keeps the production line in motion, and smaller producers get paid substantial less in many cases for cattle bought on the open market. The huge players make out while the rest are just surviving. Then of course is the retailer's margin that is quite high, but it is perishable product with a not so long shelf life.

Ranch numbers are falling has BLM has eliminated a lot of range land the used to house cattle in the Western States. For the drought years feed prices went up as well, another bolder in the path...

Until the mid 90's we had a 50 head herd here. Then the farm situation changed, and I discovered I could do something more profitable that would have made keeping them difficult. Currently we are rebuilding our herd of stock cows just by retaining the heifer calves.

The long and short of it is the big boys with outside the public market agreements are doing quite well. The small and medium sized producers are getting a very short end of the stick.

I have an adult fencing student whose dad is working to open a new beef packing plant in either Indiana or Illinois. She has told me about the virtual lock on the market by the 3 meat packers.