United States and Canadian Cattle and Sheep ISSN: 1949-1859 Released March 4, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States and Canadian Cattle Inventory Down Slightly All cattle and calves in the United States and Canada combined totaled 105 million head on January 1, 2021, down slightly from the 105 million head on January 1, 2020. All cows and heifers that have calved inventory at 45.1 million head, down slightly from a year ago. All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2021 totaled 93.6 million head, down slightly from the 93.8 million head on January 1, 2020. All cows and heifers that have calved inventory at 40.6 million head, down slightly from a year ago. All cattle and calves in Canada as of January 1, 2021 totaled 11.2 million head, down 1 percent from the 11.3 million on January 1, 2020. All cows and heifers that have calved inventory at 4.51 million, down slightly from a year ago. United States and Canadian Sheep Inventory Down 1 Percent All sheep and lambs in the United States and Canada combined totaled 5.95 million head on January 1, 2021, down 1 percent from the 6.00 million on January 1, 2020. Breeding sheep inventory at 4.36 million head, down 1 percent from a year ago. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.59 million head, down 1 percent from last year. All sheep and lambs in the United States as of January 1, 2021 totaled 5.17 million head, 1 percent below the 5.20 million head on January 1, 2020. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.78 million head, down 1 percent from a year ago. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.39 million head, unchanged from last year. All sheep and lambs in Canada as of January 1, 2021 totaled 780 thousand head, down 2 percent from last year's number of 796 thousand. Breeding sheep inventory at 581 thousand head, down 1 percent from last year. Market sheep and lambs totaled 199 thousand head, down 5 percent from a year ago. Cattle and Calf Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States and Canada: January 1, 2016-2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Cattle and calves ......................:103,498.0 105,159.6 105,863.0 106,304.7 : Cows and heifers that have calved ......: 44,095.1 45,164.4 45,545.4 45,707.6 Beef cows ............................: 33,839.0 34,850.9 35,141.0 35,376.5 Milk cows ............................: 10,256.1 10,313.5 10,404.4 10,331.1 : All other cattle .......................: 59,402.9 59,995.2 60,317.6 60,597.1 : Calf crop 1/ ...........................: 39,335.1 40,104.3 40,659.6 39,927.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ January to December calf crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service and Livestock and Animal Products Section, Statistics Canada. Cattle and Calf Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States and Canada: January 1, 2020 and 2021 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2021 as Class : 2020 : 2021 : percent : : : of 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 head ----- percent : Cattle and calves ......................: 105,058.3 104,744.5 100 : Cows and heifers that have calved ......: 45,206.3 45,106.9 100 Beef cows ............................: 34,883.0 34,688.7 99 Milk cows ............................: 10,323.3 10,418.2 101 : All other cattle .......................: 59,852.0 59,637.6 100 : Calf crop 1/ ...........................: 39,434.8 (X) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (X) Not applicable. 1/ January to December calf crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service and Livestock and Animal Products Section, Statistics Canada. Cattle and Calf Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States: January 1, 2016-2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Cattle and calves ......................:91,888.0 93,624.6 94,298.0 94,804.7 : Cows and heifers that have calved ......:39,476.2 40,539.2 40,898.3 41,044.1 Beef cows ............................:30,163.8 31,170.7 31,466.2 31,690.7 Milk cows ............................: 9,312.4 9,368.5 9,432.1 9,353.4 : Heifers 500 pounds and over ............:19,902.3 20,112.0 20,217.8 20,210.0 For beef cow replacement .............: 6,335.2 6,363.2 6,108.2 5,884.9 For milk cow replacement .............: 4,814.0 4,754.0 4,768.3 4,701.5 Other heifers ........................: 8,753.1 8,994.8 9,341.3 9,623.6 : Steers 500 pounds and over .............:16,305.4 16,373.5 16,528.2 16,757.7 Bulls 500 pounds and over ..............: 2,137.4 2,243.6 2,252.3 2,253.0 Calves under 500 pounds ................:14,066.7 14,356.3 14,401.4 14,539.9 : Calf crop 1/ ...........................:35,062.7 35,758.2 36,312.7 35,591.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ January to December calf crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service. Cattle and Calf Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2021 as Class : 2020 : 2021 : percent : : : of 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 head ---- percent : Cattle and calves ......................: 93,793.3 93,594.5 100 : Cows and heifers that have calved ......: 40,681.3 40,598.0 100 Beef cows ............................: 31,338.7 31,157.6 99 Milk cows ............................: 9,342.6 9,440.4 101 : Heifers 500 pounds and over ............: 20,024.4 20,000.1 100 For beef cow replacement .............: 5,808.9 5,812.1 100 For milk cow replacement .............: 4,684.0 4,604.5 98 Other heifers ........................: 9,531.5 9,583.5 101 : Steers 500 pounds and over .............: 16,541.2 16,597.8 100 Bulls 500 pounds and over ..............: 2,237.4 2,210.5 99 Calves under 500 pounds ................: 14,309.0 14,188.1 99 : Calf crop 1/ ...........................: 35,135.5 (X) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (X) Not applicable. 1/ January to December calf crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service. Cattle and Calf Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - Canada: January 1, 2016-2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Cattle and calves ......................:11,610.0 11,535.0 11,565.0 11,500.0 : Cows and heifers that have calved ......: 4,618.9 4,625.2 4,647.1 4,663.5 Beef cows ............................: 3,675.2 3,680.2 3,674.8 3,685.8 Milk cows ............................: 943.7 945.0 972.3 977.7 : Heifers 1 year and over ................: 1,756.7 1,718.9 1,727.9 1,726.8 For beef cow replacement .............: 564.8 563.3 561.6 549.8 For milk cow replacement .............: 428.6 423.6 433.2 432.0 Other heifers ........................: 763.3 732.0 733.1 745.0 : Steers 1 year and over .................: 1,205.6 1,191.2 1,243.0 1,202.6 Bulls 1 year and over ..................: 212.7 213.1 215.3 212.1 Calves under 1 year ....................: 3,816.1 3,786.6 3,731.7 3,695.0 : Calf crop 1/ ...........................: 4,272.4 4,346.1 4,346.9 4,335.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ January to December calf crop. Source: Livestock and Animal Products Section, Statistics Canada. Cattle and Calf Inventory by Class and Calf Crop - Canada: January 1, 2020 and 2021 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2021 as Class : 2020 : 2021 : percent : : : of 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 head ---- percent : Cattle and calves ......................: 11,265.0 11,150.0 99 : Cows and heifers that have calved ......: 4,525.0 4,508.9 100 Beef cows ............................: 3,544.3 3,531.1 100 Milk cows ............................: 980.7 977.8 100 : Heifers 1 year and over ................: 1,690.5 1,668.8 99 For beef cow replacement .............: 523.7 545.4 104 For milk cow replacement .............: 438.0 427.7 98 Other heifers ........................: 728.8 695.7 95 : Steers 1 year and over .................: 1,099.9 1,053.9 96 Bulls 1 year and over ..................: 200.2 210.0 105 Calves under 1 year ....................: 3,749.4 3,708.4 99 : Calf crop 1/ ...........................: 4,299.3 (X) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (X) Not applicable. 1/ January to December calf crop. Source: Livestock and Animal Products Section, Statistics Canada. Sheep and Lamb Inventory by Class and Lamb Crop - United States and Canada: January 1, 2016-2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : All sheep and lambs .........................: 6,110.1 6,083.9 6,094.4 6,057.8 : Breeding sheep and lambs ....................: 4,555.6 4,504.6 4,480.4 4,431.9 Replacement lambs - under one year old ....: 739.3 741.5 740.9 729.2 Ewes - one year old and older .............: 3,616.8 3,569.1 3,545.9 3,509.3 Rams - one year old and older .............: 199.5 194.0 193.6 193.4 : Market sheep and lambs ......................: 1,554.5 1,579.3 1,614.0 1,625.9 Market sheep 1/ ...........................: 75.0 76.0 80.0 82.0 Market lambs 2/ ...........................: 1,479.5 1,503.3 1,534.0 1,543.9 : Lamb crop 3/ ................................: 4,121.8 4,085.4 4,068.7 4,056.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ United States market sheep only. 2/ Canada market lambs include small amounts of market sheep. 3/ January to December lamb crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service and Statistics Canada, Livestock and Animal Products Section. Sheep and Lamb Inventory by Class and Lamb Crop - United States and Canada: January 1, 2020 and 2021 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : 2021 as Class : 2020 : 2021 : percent : : : of 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : All sheep and lambs .........................: 5,995.8 5,950.2 99 : Breeding sheep and lambs ....................: 4,396.4 4,360.8 99 Replacement lambs - under one year old ....: 734.9 729.7 99 Ewes - one year old and older .............: 3,468.3 3,438.2 99 Rams - one year old and older .............: 193.2 192.9 100 : Market sheep and lambs ......................: 1,599.4 1,589.4 99 Market sheep 1/ ...........................: 84.0 81.0 96 Market lambs 2/ ...........................: 1,515.4 1,508.4 100 : Lamb crop 3/ ................................: 4,055.9 (X) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (X) Not applicable. 1/ United States market sheep only. 2/ Canada market lambs include small amounts of market sheep. 3/ January to December lamb crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service and Statistics Canada, Livestock and Animal Products Section. Sheep and Lamb Inventory by Class and Lamb Crop - United States: January 1, 2016-2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : All sheep and lambs .........................: 5,295.0 5,270.0 5,265.0 5,230.0 : Breeding sheep and lambs ....................: 3,940.0 3,894.0 3,865.0 3,820.0 Replacement lambs - under one year old ....: 665.0 666.0 662.0 650.0 Ewes - one year old and older .............: 3,100.0 3,058.0 3,033.0 3,000.0 Rams - one year old and older .............: 175.0 170.0 170.0 170.0 : Market sheep and lambs ......................: 1,355.0 1,376.0 1,400.0 1,410.0 Market sheep ..............................: 75.0 76.0 80.0 82.0 Market lambs ..............................: 1,280.0 1,300.0 1,320.0 1,328.0 : Lamb crop 1/ ................................: 3,265.0 3,230.0 3,235.0 3,230.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ January to December lamb crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service. Sheep and Lamb Inventory by Class and Lamb Crop - United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : 2021 as Class : 2020 : 2021 : percent : : : of 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : All sheep and lambs .........................: 5,200.0 5,170.0 99 : Breeding sheep and lambs ....................: 3,810.0 3,780.0 99 Replacement lambs - under one year old ....: 660.0 650.0 98 Ewes - one year old and older .............: 2,980.0 2,960.0 99 Rams - one year old and older .............: 170.0 170.0 100 : Market sheep and lambs ......................: 1,390.0 1,390.0 100 Market sheep ..............................: 84.0 81.0 96 Market lambs ..............................: 1,306.0 1,309.0 100 : Lamb crop 1/ ................................: 3,210.0 (X) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (X) Not applicable. 1/ January to December lamb crop. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service. Sheep and Lamb Inventory by Class and Lamb Crop - Canada: January 1, 2016-2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : All sheep and lambs .........................: 815.1 813.9 829.4 827.8 : Breeding sheep and lambs ....................: 615.6 610.6 615.4 611.9 Replacement lambs - under one year old ....: 74.3 75.5 78.9 79.2 Ewes - one year old and older .............: 516.8 511.1 512.9 509.3 Rams - one year old and older .............: 24.5 24.0 23.6 23.4 : Market sheep and lambs ......................: 199.5 203.3 214.0 215.9 : Lamb crop 1/ ................................: 856.8 855.4 833.7 826.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ January to December lamb crop. Source: Statistics Canada, Livestock and Animal Products Section. Sheep and Lamb Inventory by Class and Lamb Crop - Canada: January 1, 2020 and 2021 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : 2021 as Class : 2020 : 2021 : percent : : : of 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : --- 1,000 head --- percent : All sheep and lambs .........................: 795.8 780.2 98 : Breeding sheep and lambs ....................: 586.4 580.8 99 Replacement lambs - under one year old ....: 74.9 79.7 106 Ewes - one year old and older .............: 488.3 478.2 98 Rams - one year old and older .............: 23.2 22.9 99 : Market sheep and lambs ......................: 209.4 199.4 95 : Lamb crop 1/ ................................: 845.9 (X) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (X) Not applicable. 1/ January to December lamb crop. Source: Statistics Canada, Livestock and Animal Products Section. This publication is a result of a joint effort by Statistics Canada and NASS to release the number of cattle and calves by class and calf crop for both countries within one publication. This information was requested by the United States cattle industry to provide producers additional information about potential beef, mutton, and lamb supplies. United States inventory numbers were previously released on January 29, 2021. Canadian inventory numbers were released on March 1, 2021. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......... (202) 692-0069 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040 Logan Hartley - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Cornell's Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS's and other agencies archived reports. The new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. 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