USDA estimated there were 86.662 million head of cattle in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, down 495,000 head (06%) from last year and the lowest since 1951. The beef cow herd declined 149,000 head (0.4%) to 27.864 million head. The 2024 calf crop was estimated at 33.530 million head, down 33,000 head (0.1%) from the previous year.
| Cattle Inventory Report | USDA (% of year-ago) | Average estimate (% of year-ago) |
| All cattle/calves on Jan. 1 | 99.4 | 99.1 |
| Cow/heifers that have calved | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| Beef cows | 99.5 | 99.3 |
| Dairy cows | 100.0 | 100.2 |
| Heifers 500 lbs.+ | 99.2 | 99.5 |
| Beef heifer replacements | 99.0 | 101.3 |
| Dairy heifer replacements | 99.1 | 100.6 |
| Other heifers | 99.4 | 98.2 |
| Steers 500 lbs.+ | 99.0 | 98.6 |
| Bulls 500 lbs.+ | 98.9 | 99.7 |
| All calves 500 lbs. and under | 99.8 | 98.1 |
| Calf crop (2024) | 99.9 | 98.5 |
The number of beef heifers expected to calve in 2025 dropped 50,000 head (1.7%) and total beef replacement heifers declined 46,000 head (1.0%). Combined with the slightly smaller beef cow inventory, the 2025 calf crop will continue to shrink.
The total number of cattle in all feedlots as of Jan. 1 stood at 14.297 million head, down 129,000 head ( 0.9%) from year-ago.
The milk cow herd at 9.349 million head was virtually unchanged from year-ago, though milk replacement heifers dropped 37,000 head (0.6%).
Based on the cow herd size and number of heifers being held back for breeding, the total U.S. cattle herd is likely to decline slightly again in 2025, with the Jan. 1, 2026, population potentially coming in just a bit lower.
Compared to pre-report expectations, the data was mostly neutral, though the lack of expansion plans was a modest surprise.