Beef Cow Inventory Update – Jul ’19
According to USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report, the U.S. beef cow herd remained at an 11 year seasonal high level as of Jul ’19. The report showed that as of July 1st, 2019, the total U.S. beef cow herd stood at 32.4 million head, unchanged from the previous year.
Beef heifer replacements continued to decline, however, finishing lower on a YOY basis for the fourth consecutive year. Total beef heifer replacements of 4.4 million head finished at a six year low overall, down 200,000 head, of 4.3%, from the previous year. The YOY decline in beef heifer replacements was the largest experienced throughout the past eight years on an absolute basis. On a heifer replacement per beef cow basis, the Jul ’19 figure of 0.136 finished at an eight year low.
Beef heifer replacements continued to decline, however, finishing lower on a YOY basis for the fourth consecutive year. Total beef heifer replacements of 4.4 million head finished at a six year low overall, down 200,000 head, of 4.3%, from the previous year. The YOY decline in beef heifer replacements was the largest experienced throughout the past eight years on an absolute basis. On a heifer replacement per beef cow basis, the Jul ’19 figure of 0.136 finished at an eight year low.