US cattle inventory down 1% as of January 1

As of January 1, all cattle and calves in the US totalled 93.7 million head, 1% below the 94.5 million on January 1, 2009.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, USDA, all cows and heifers that have calved totalled 40.5 million, down 1% from the 41 million on January 1, 2009. Beef cows, at 31.4 million, were down 1% from January 1, 2009. Milk cows, at 9.1 million, were down 3%.

All heifers 500 pounds and over were up slightly at 19.7 million head; beef replacement heifers were down 2% at 4.5 million; milk replacement heifers were up 2% to 4.5 million; and other heifers were up 1% to 9.7 million head.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over decreased 2% to 16.4 million; bulls weighing 500 pounds were up slightly to 2.2 million; and calves under 500 pounds were up slightly to 14.9 million.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots were down 2% to 13.6 million head. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds outside of feedlots was 27.5 million, down slightly.

The 2009 calf crop was estimated at 35.8 million head, down 1% from 2008. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 26 million, down 1% from 2008.