USDA report shows a reduction in the US cattle herd

Published 2023년 2월 16일

Tridge summary

The USDA's semi-annual livestock report reveals a continued contraction in the beef, dairy herd for the ninth year in the livestock cycle, with the total number of cattle and calves reaching 89.3 million head as of January 1, 2023, a 2.8 million drop from the previous year. The decline is attributed to factors such as lower cattle prices and higher input costs, leading to a reduction in beef cows to their lowest level since 1962 and the smallest beef herd since 1975. Additionally, the 2022 calf crop saw a 2% decrease, and the number of confined cattle also fell, resulting in fewer fattening steers available for 2023, marking the lowest level since 2015.

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Original content

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its semi-annual report on livestock on Jan. 31. According to the report, the total number of cattle and calves as of January 1, 2023 in the US was 89.3 million head, 2.8 million less than the previous year. This marks the fourth year of beef, beef and dairy herd contraction in the ninth year of the current livestock cycle – cyclic expansion and contraction of the herd over time. The cycle is influenced by the combined effects of cattle prices and input costs, which drive the profitability of calf production, the gestation period of cows, the time required to raise calves to ideal weight, and weather conditions. According to the report, the number of beef cows was particularly affected by the livestock cycle. In recent years, producers have faced periods of drought, which have led to lower forage availability and higher feed costs, as well as increased operating expenses, which have ...

Source: Beefpoint