Whereas largely in keeping with pre-report commerce estimates, the extremely anticipated USDA “Cattle” report offered a fair clearer image of the drought’s affect on the U.S. beef cattle trade.
The entire stock of cattle and calves within the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2023, totaled 89.3 million head, 3% beneath the 92.1 million head on January 1, 2022. The typical pre-report commerce estimate was additionally for a 3% decline.
As anticipated by analysts, the variety of beef cows on Jan. 1 was 28.9 million head, down 4% from a 12 months in the past and the bottom stock since 1962.
All cows and heifers which have calved, at 38.3 million head, had been 3% beneath the 39.4 million head on January 1, 2022. The commerce had estimated a 3% decline.
Milk cows, at 9.40 million head, had been up barely from the earlier 12 months.
All heifers 500 kilos and over totaled 19.2 million head, 4% beneath the identical interval final 12 months. The commerce had anticipated solely a 2% decline.
Beef substitute heifers, at 5.16 million head, had been down 6% from a 12 months in the past. The pre-report common estimate was for a 3% decline.
Milk substitute heifers, at 4.34 million head, had been down 2% from the earlier 12 months. Different heifers, at 9.67 million head, had been 3% beneath a 12 months earlier.
Steers weighing 500 kilos and over totaled 16.1 million head, down 3% from final 12 months. Bulls weighing 500 kilos and over totaled 2.03 million head, 4% decrease than final 12 months.
Calf crop down 2%
The 2022 calf crop within the U.S. was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from the earlier 12 months’s calf crop. Calves born throughout the first half of 2022 had been estimated at 25.3 million head, down 2% from the primary half of 2021. Calves born throughout the second half of 2022 had been estimated at 9.16 million head, 27% of the whole 2022 calf crop.
