The USDA Biannual Cattle Inventory Report
July 1 Cattle Inventory Up Slightly
All cattle and calves in the United States on July 1, 2026 totaled 94.2 million head, slightly above the 94.0 million head
on July 1, 2025.
All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.1 million head, unchanged from the 38.1 million head on July 1, 2025.
Beef cows, at 28.5 million head, are down 1 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.65 million head, are up 2 percent
from previous year.
All heifers 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2026 totaled 14.7 million head, 1 percent above the 14.6 million head on
July 1, 2025. Beef replacement heifers, at 3.80 million head, are up 3 percent from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers,
at 3.60 million head, are up 3 percent from previous year. Other heifers, at 7.30 million head, are 1 percent below a year
earlier.
Steers 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2026 totaled 13.9 million head, up 1 percent from July 1, 2025.
Bulls 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2026 totaled 1.90 million head, unchanged from previous year.
Calves under 500 pounds on July 1, 2026 totaled 25.6 million head, unchanged from a year earlier.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.2 million head on
July 1, 2026, up 2 percent from previous year. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted
for 86.1 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2026, up 1 percent from previous year. The total of calves under
500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots), at 33.6 million head, is down 1 percent
from the 33.8 million head on July 1, 2025.
Calf Crop Down 2 Percent
The 2026 calf crop in the United States is expected to be 32.5 million head, down 2 percent from last year. Calves born
during the first half of 2026 are estimated at 23.9 million head, down 2 percent from the first half of 2025. An additional
8.60 million calves are expected to be born during the second half of 2026.
Cattle On Feed Report
July 24, 2026
United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head
totaled 11.4 million head on July 1, 2026. The inventory was 2 percent above July 1, 2025. The inventory included
7.12 million steers and steer calves, up 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total
inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.25 million head, up slightly from 2025.
Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.40 million head, 3 percent below 2025. Net placements were
1.35 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 325,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 225,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 300,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 309,000 head,
900-999 pounds were 160,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.66 million head, 3 percent below 2025. Marketings were the lowest for
June since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during June, 6 percent below 2025.
Commercial Red Meat Production Up 4 Percent from Last Year
July 23, 2026
June 2025 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
June 2026 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.39 billion pounds in June, up 4 percent from the
4.22 billion pounds produced in June 2025.
Beef production, at 2.11 billion pounds, was 1 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.38 million
head, down 2 percent from June 2025. The average live weight was up 39 pounds from the previous year, at
1,447 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.7 million pounds, 15 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 7,600 head, down
21 percent from June 2025. The average live weight was up 29 pounds from last year, at 387 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.27 billion pounds, up 7 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.5 million
head, up 5 percent from June 2025. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 289 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.4 million pounds, was down 11 percent from June 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled
175,900 head, 7 percent below last year. The average live weight was 116 pounds, down 5 pounds from June a year ago.
January to June 2026 commercial red meat production was 26.2 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2025.
Accumulated beef production was down 5 percent from last year, veal was down 25 percent, pork was up 1 percent from
last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 10 percent.
