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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The USDA estimated 94.2 million cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2025. That was 1% below the last comparable July estimate, from 2023. Contemporary reporting described the figure as the lowest midyear count since 1973, but USDA did not conduct a July inventory survey in 2024, so this is not a year-over-year comparison.
What the July 2025 cattle inventory found
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimated 94.2 million cattle and calves on U.S. farms on July 1, 2025, down from 95.4 million on July 1, 2023. The agency compared the two July estimates because it did not conduct a July 2024 Cattle report. The 2025 report describes the total as 1% lower than in 2023. USDA’s July 2025 report
The phrase “smallest since 1973” is a contemporaneous historical characterization reported by the Associated Press, which attributed the comparison to USDA data. The chart in the 2025 USDA report displays 2000–2025, not the full period back to 1973. USDA also notes that July reports were not conducted in 2013, 2016, and 2024 because of reduced funding. Associated Press coverage
What is included in the total
The headline number covers cattle and calves across the United States, not only animals currently being raised for beef. It includes breeding stock, replacement heifers, cattle raised for meat, and calves. NASS’s July estimates are national; its January inventory estimates cover both individual states and the nation. USDA agricultural statistics
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Several component estimates help put the total in context. They describe different parts of the cattle supply and should not be treated as interchangeable with the all-cattle count.
| Measure | July 2025 estimate or projection | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| All cattle and calves | 94.2 million head | Animals on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2025 |
| Beef cows | 28.7 million head | Beef-breed cows in the breeding herd |
| Milk cows | 9.45 million head | Cows in the dairy herd |
| 2025 calf crop | 33.1 million head | USDA’s projection for calves born during 2025; 1% below 2024 |
These component figures are from the USDA’s 2025 inventory release. USDA July 2025 Cattle report
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Why the inventory matters to the beef supply
An inventory is a snapshot of the animals in the system, while the calf-crop estimate points toward future additions. Together, the figures help analysts assess cattle-cycle trends and the amount of beef that may move to market. The total count alone does not say exactly how much beef will be available at a particular time: different categories serve different roles, and the calf crop is a projection rather than a count of animals already marketed.
NASS said its July 2025 survey used a probability list-frame sample of approximately 17,900 producers and feedlots. The agency reported that 73% of reports were usable and contacted an additional sample to represent operations not found on its list frame. NASS Livestock Branch Chief Travis Averill said the information helps producers plan for herd expansion or reduction and helps packers and government leaders evaluate expected slaughter volume and potential export supplies. USDA survey announcement, June 20, 2025
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What the July 2026 update changes
The 2025 figure is a dated historical result, not the latest midyear estimate. USDA’s July 2026 report again put all cattle and calves at 94.2 million head. Within that same release, the beef-cow estimate was 28.5 million and the projected 2026 calf crop was 32.5 million. Those later figures show why the headline total should be read alongside its date and herd components: the all-cattle estimate can match while individual categories differ. USDA July 2026 Cattle report
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this count does—and does not—explain
The inventory establishes the estimated size and composition of the U.S. herd on a specified date. By itself, it does not establish why the herd reached that level. The figures here do not demonstrate that any one factor—such as drought, feed costs, interest rates, or rancher decisions—caused the decline. Nor can the July national report support a state-by-state ranking: NASS says July estimates are national only.
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