By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2023, totaled 89.3 million head, 3% below the 92.1 million head on Jan. 1, 2022, USDA NASS reported on Tuesday.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 38.3 million head, were 3% below the 39.4 million head on Jan. 1, 2022. Beef cows, at 28.9 million head, were down 4% from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.40 million head, were up slightly from the previous year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1, 2023 totaled 19.2 million head, 4% below the 19.9 million head on Jan. 1, 2022. Beef replacement heifers, at 5.16 million head, were down 6% from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.34 million head, were down 2% from the previous year. Other heifers, at 9.67 million head, were 3% below a year earlier.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1, 2023 totaled 16.1 million head, down 3% from Jan. 1, 2022.

Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over as of Jan. 1, 2023 totaled 2.03 million head, down 4% from Jan. 1, 2022.

Calves under 500 pounds as of Jan. 1, 2023 totaled 13.6 million head, down 3% from Jan. 1, 2022.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 14.2 million head on Jan. 1, 2023. The inventory is down 4% from the Jan. 1, 2022 total of 14.7 million head. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 82.5% of the total cattle on feed on Jan. 1, 2023, up 1% from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots) at 25.3 million head, was 3% below Jan. 1, 2022.

CALF CROP DOWN 2%

The 2022 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from the previous year's calf crop. Calves born during the first half of 2022 were estimated at 25.3 million head, down 2% from the first half of 2021. Calves born during the second half of 2022 were estimated at 9.16 million head, 27% of the total 2022 calf crop.

REVISIONS

All inventory and calf crop estimates for July 1, 2021, Jan. 1, 2022, and July 1, 2022 were reviewed using calf crop, official slaughter, import and export data, and the relationship of new survey information to the prior surveys. Based on the findings of this review, Jan. 1, 2022 all cattle and calves increased by 0.2% and 2021 calf crop increased by 0.2%.

July 1, 2022 all cattle and calves decreased by 0.2% and 2022 calf crop decreased by 0.4%.

State-level estimates were reviewed and changes were made to reallocate inventory estimates to the United States total.

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DTN subscribers can view the full USDA Cattle inventory report in the Livestock Archives folder under the Markets menu. The report is also available at https://www.nass.usda.gov/….

Class	2022	2023	% of previous year
	(1,000 head)	(1,000 head)	(percent)
All cattle and calves	92,076.6	89,274.1	97
All cows and heifers
that have calved	39,360.1	38,320.4	97
-- Beef cows	29,983.1	28,917.9	96
-- Milk cows	9,377.0	9,402.5	100
All heifers 500 lbs. and over	19,916.0	19,172.5	96
-- For beef cow replacement	5,481.5	5,163.7	94
Expected to calve*	3,339.5	3,168.7	95
-- For milk cow replacement	4,440.6	4,337.2	98
Expected to calve*	2,826.2	2,769.4	98
-- Other heifers	9,993.9	9,671.6	97
Steers 500 pounds and over	16,704.7	16,131.6	97
Bulls 500 pounds and over	2,109.6	2,029.0	96
Calves under 500 pounds	13,986.2	13,620.6	97
All cattle on feed	14,694.6	14,157.3	96
	2021	2022	% of previous year
Calf crop	35,165.9	34,464.5	98

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