Friday Feature: Smallest U.S. Cattle Herd in 75 Years

by | Feb 6, 2026 | Beef Cattle, Dairy, Economics, Feature Video, Livestock, Market

This week’s featured video was published by Farm Journal to summarize USDA’s January Cattle Report that was released on January 30, 2026. Experts have been predicting that expansion of the U.S. Cattle Inventory has not started yet, but this report confirms that prediction. Watch the video to hear an interview of Patrick Linnell, CattleFax Director of Market Research, who explains the significance of this recent report.

Key points from this report were:

  • All cows and heifers that have calved, at 37.2 million head, were slightly below the 37.3 million head on January 1, 2025. Beef cows, at 27.6 million head, were down 1 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.57 million head,were up 2 percent from the previous year.
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  • All heifers 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2026 totaled 18.0 million head, 1 percent below the 18.1 million head on January 1, 2025. Beef replacement heifers, at 4.71 million head, were up 1 percent from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 3.90 million head, were down slightly from the previous year.
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  • The 2025 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 32.9 million head, down 2 percent from the previous year’s calf crop. Calves born during the first half of 2025 were estimated at 24.2 million head, down 2 percent from the first half of 2024. Calves born during the second half of 2025 were estimated at 8.70 million head, 26 percent of the total 2025 calf crop.

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If you enjoyed this video, you might want to check the other 350+ YouTube videos highlighted in the Friday Feature Archive

If you come across an interesting, inspiring, humorous or innovative video related to agriculture, please send in a link, so we can share it with our readers.  Use the share button from the YouTube or Facebook video you like and send the link via email to:  Doug Mayo

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