The reduction in the U.S. beef cow herd and lower numbers of cattle on feed should result in lower cattle slaughter and declining beef production.
Released February 5, 2010
FARGO, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Jan. 1 cattle inventory report released on Jan. 29 indicated a continuing decline in the U.S. cattle herd. Most people in the cattle and beef industry were expecting cattle numbers to be lower, with some expecting even lower numbers than what NASS reported.
All cattle and calves in the U.S. on Jan. 1 totaled 93.7 million head. This is 0.9 percent below the 94.5 million recorded on Jan. 1, 2009. At 31.4 million head, beef cows were down 1.1 percent from last year.
--continued on North Dakota State University news
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