U.S. Beef Cow Inventory Update – Jan ’21
According to USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report, the U.S. beef cow herd declined for the second consecutive year throughout 2020, reaching a five year low level. The report showed that as of January 1st, 2021, the total U.S. beef cow herd stood at 31.16 million head, down 181,000 head, or 0.6%, from the previous year.
Texas had the largest beef cow herd as of January 1st, 2021, followed by Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska. The aforementioned states accounted for over a third of the total national beef cow herd.
YOY declines in beef cow herd figures were led by Colorado (-112,000 head), followed by Missouri (-48,000 head) and Kentucky (-38,000 head). Texas (+115,000 head) and Oklahoma (+80,000 head) experienced the largest increases in their beef cow herd throughout the year.
The number of beef heifer replacements rebounded slightly from the six year low level experienced throughout the previous year, however, increasing by 3,200 head, or 0.1%. The YOY increase in beef heifer replacements was the first experienced throughout the past four years. On a heifer replacement per beef cow basis, the 2021 figure of 0.187 rebounded to a three year high level.
Texas had the largest number of beef heifer replacements as of January 1st, 2021, followed by Oklahoma, Montana and South Dakota. The aforementioned states accounted for nearly a third of the total U.S. beef heifer replacements.
YOY increases in beef heifer replacements were most significant within Oklahoma (+40,000 head), followed by North Dakota (+22,000 head), Texas (+20,000 head) and Kansas (+20,000 head). Idaho (-30,000 head), Colorado (-25,000 head) and Nebraska (-20,000 head) experienced the largest declines in beef heifer replacements throughout the year.
Beef heifer replacements expected to calve also rebounded from the six year low level experienced throughout the previous year, increasing by 46,200 head, or 1.3%. Total beef heifer replacements rebounded to a three year high level, overall. On a heifer replacement expected to calve per beef cow basis, the Jan ’21 figure of 0.114 also reached a three year high level.
Texas had the largest beef cow herd as of January 1st, 2021, followed by Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska. The aforementioned states accounted for over a third of the total national beef cow herd.
YOY declines in beef cow herd figures were led by Colorado (-112,000 head), followed by Missouri (-48,000 head) and Kentucky (-38,000 head). Texas (+115,000 head) and Oklahoma (+80,000 head) experienced the largest increases in their beef cow herd throughout the year.
The number of beef heifer replacements rebounded slightly from the six year low level experienced throughout the previous year, however, increasing by 3,200 head, or 0.1%. The YOY increase in beef heifer replacements was the first experienced throughout the past four years. On a heifer replacement per beef cow basis, the 2021 figure of 0.187 rebounded to a three year high level.
Texas had the largest number of beef heifer replacements as of January 1st, 2021, followed by Oklahoma, Montana and South Dakota. The aforementioned states accounted for nearly a third of the total U.S. beef heifer replacements.
YOY increases in beef heifer replacements were most significant within Oklahoma (+40,000 head), followed by North Dakota (+22,000 head), Texas (+20,000 head) and Kansas (+20,000 head). Idaho (-30,000 head), Colorado (-25,000 head) and Nebraska (-20,000 head) experienced the largest declines in beef heifer replacements throughout the year.
Beef heifer replacements expected to calve also rebounded from the six year low level experienced throughout the previous year, increasing by 46,200 head, or 1.3%. Total beef heifer replacements rebounded to a three year high level, overall. On a heifer replacement expected to calve per beef cow basis, the Jan ’21 figure of 0.114 also reached a three year high level.