USDA report shows a reduction in the US cattle herd

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 ...