U.S. Cattle Numbers Hit Lowest Level in Over 70 Years

The livestock inventory in the United States decreased from 87.2 million to 86.7 million between January 2024 and January 2025, as reported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its annual livestock report.

The 1% decline is seen across various categories, although dairy cows experienced a slight increase, highlighting challenges predominantly within the beef cattle sector. This decline exacerbates the sluggish recovery of cattle herds, suggesting continued firmness in meat and cattle prices throughout 2025.

Cattle and Calves Details:

Calved Cows and Heifers: 37.2 million heads, slightly below the 37.4 million of 2023.

Dairy Cows: 9.35 million heads, showing a slight increase compared to 2024.

Calf Production: 33.5 million heads, a reduction of 100,000 heads (-0.3%) from the previous year.

Cattle in Feedlots: 14.3 million heads, marking a 1% year-over-year decrease.

According to Steiner Group consultancy, beef stock levels at the end of December were the lowest in a decade in the U.S. market, providing price support given the anticipated lower supply in coming months.

The USDA projections for 2025 estimate a decrease in cattle slaughtering by more than 4%, from 32.2 million heads to 30.6 million.

This significant reduction in cattle inventory poses challenges for the U.S. beef market as it navigates a complex landscape of supply and demand in the coming year.