The USDA released their January 1, 2010 cattle inventory report this past Friday.  On a national level, all cattle and calves in the U.S. totaled 94.7 million head.  This was a 1% drop from the January 1, 2009 report.  In that total, beef cows were down 1% while milk cows were down 3%.

Here's how the U.S. numbers look:

How did our region fair?

MONTANA
In the Big Sky State, we saw reductions in the herd size in two categories.  Overall, Montana had 2,550,000 cattle and calves as of January 1, 2010.  This was down from 2,600,000 at that same time in 2009 and represented a 2% drop.  The two areas that saw the most significant decrease were “Beef Cow Replacement Heifers 500 Pounds and Over” and “Calves Under 500 Pounds.”  Beef cow replacement heifers, with a drop of 45,000 head, are now at 340,000 head.  The number of calves less than 500 pounds in the state dropped 20,000 head to be at an estimated 95,000 head.  Another loss, although small in number, was quite big by percentage.  At 26,000 head, the number of cattle currently on feed in Montana dropped 42% from its January 1, 2009 number.

NORTH DAKOTA
The North Dakota cattle herd saw a reduction in size due in part to a small 2009 calf crop.  Overall, at 1,720,000 head, there was a 2% drop in the state’s cattle population.  The number of beef cow replacement heifers weighing more than 500 pounds dropped by 15,000 head.  The estimated total is 165,000 head.  There was an increase of 15,000 head in the number of steers in the state weighing over 500 pounds.  There was a 5,000 head drop in the number of calves less than 500 pounds.  The 2009 calf crop at 890,000 head was 30,000 head smaller than the 2008 calf crop.

SOUTH DAKOTA
The Mount Rushmore State was the exception to the region and the nation with a 3% increase in the number of cattle in the state.  That population is up 100,000 head to 3,800,000 total.  While the state saw a 30,000 head drop in the number of calves weighing less than 500 pounds, they did see an 80,000 head increase in the number of steers weighing over 500 pounds.  The number of beef cow replacement heifers over 500 pounds was also 5,000 head greater at 285,000 head.  The 2009 calf crop in the state was the same size as what was seen in 2008.

WYOMING
Wyoming followed along with the national trend, posting a loss in the number of cattle in the state when comparing the start of 2010 to the start of 2009.  The 30,000 head decrease overall represented 2% less cattle.  The total population is now 1,320,000 head.  The number of beef cow replacement heifers over 500 pounds was 5,000 head lower at 145,000.  However, the number of steers in the state over 500 pounds was actually up by 10,000 head at 175,000.  The calf crop in 2009 was 97% of 2008’s number at 660,000 head.

CLICK HERE to view the full report.

Posted by Haylie Shipp.