WASHINGTON — The US Cattle Report from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported that the national cattle inventory was at 87.2 million, down 2% from 2023. 

Data from NASS showed that this was the smallest cattle inventory count since 1951. 

In other categories, all cows and heifers that have calved stood at 37.6 million head, down 2% from 38.3 million head on Jan. 1, 2023. Milk cows were reported at 9.36 million, slightly down from 2023.

NASS added that cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market for feedlots was 14.4 million head, up 2% from Jan. 1, 2023. 

The number of all heifers 500 lbs and over was down 1% from last January to 18.5 million, the USDA said. Beef replacement heifers were also down 2% at 4.86 million, while milk replacement heifers were slightly down to 4.06 million. Other heifers were down 2% to 9.57 million.

The full report from NASS can be found here.