U.S. beef herd inventory lower for fifth consecutive year
2/5/2024 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming
Start Date: 1/1/2024
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The U.S. beef cow herd was 28.2 million head on Jan. 1, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service cattle report. The beef cow inventory has decreased for the fifth consecutive year. Drought severity in 2023 led some producers to sell livestock. The states with the biggest drops in cattle were Texas, down 4.3%; Oklahoma, down 3.5%; Missouri, down 5.9%; and Nebraska, down 3.9%.
Farm Progress (St. Charles, Ill.), Feb 5, 2024
On Jan. 1, the U.S. cow herd amounted to 28.2 million head for the smallest herd since the report was established in 1972 and 2% lower than one year ago. Ongoing drought in key cattle-producing states, in addition to high input costs, have led to liquidation.
Successful Farming Online (Des Moines, Iowa), Feb 2, 2024
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