Following the 2022 Census of Agriculture, changes were implemented in the cattle program. Starting January 2025, a reduced number of data items are being published for the following states: Alaska (AK), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Hawaii (HI), Indiana (IN), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Mississippi (MS), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), North Carolina (NC), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), and West Virginia (WV). Despite this reduction, key estimates such as the total inventory of all cattle and calves, all cows inventory, and calf crop are still published for all states.
At the state level, data publication has been streamlined to focus on essential metrics while maintaining consistency with national totals. For instance, Texas, one of the largest cattle-producing states, saw its total cattle and calves inventory decline from 11,700,000 head in 2024 to 11,800,000 head in 2025, representing a slight increase of 1%. Meanwhile, smaller states like Delaware experienced more pronounced fluctuations, with its inventory decreasing by 4% over the same period.
In addition to these program changes, revisions to previous estimates were conducted to ensure accuracy and reliability. All inventory and calf crop estimates for July 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, were reviewed using updated data on calf crop, official slaughter records, import and export statistics, and new survey information.
Based on this review:
• The estimate for all cows and heifers that have calved decreased by 0.3% as of July 1, 2023, and by 0.6% as of January 1, 2024.
• The 2023 calf crop estimate was revised downward by 0.1%.
State-level estimates were also reviewed, leading to reallocations of inventory figures to align with the United States total. For example, the inventory of beef cows that have calved in Nebraska was adjusted downward by 4%, while milk cow inventories in California remained relatively stable, increasing by only 1%.
Revisions are an ongoing process aimed at improving year-to-year and item-to-item relationships. Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when current estimates are prepared, with updates primarily driven by livestock slaughter data, foreign trade figures, and additional survey results. Furthermore, estimates will be reviewed after the release of data from the five-year Census of Agriculture, after which no further revisions will be made.
The reliability of these estimates is supported by rigorous statistical methodologies. Over the past 10 years, the "Root Mean Square Error" for all cattle and calves inventory estimates has averaged 0.4%, meaning there is a 2-in-3 chance that the final estimate will not deviate from the current estimate by more than 0.4%. At the 90% confidence level, this margin increases to 0.7%. Historical data shows that changes between the first and latest estimates have averaged 234,000 head, ranging from 0 to 627,000 head.
All together, these program adjustments and revisions underscore the commitment to delivering precise and actionable insights into the cattle sector. By balancing comprehensive data collection with operational efficiency, stakeholders can make much more informed decisions regarding production planning, pricing strategies, and resource allocation. This approach ensures that users receive reliable and up-to-date information to navigate the complexities of modern agriculture.
At the state level, data publication has been streamlined to focus on essential metrics while maintaining consistency with national totals. For instance, Texas, one of the largest cattle-producing states, saw its total cattle and calves inventory decline from 11,700,000 head in 2024 to 11,800,000 head in 2025, representing a slight increase of 1%. Meanwhile, smaller states like Delaware experienced more pronounced fluctuations, with its inventory decreasing by 4% over the same period.
In addition to these program changes, revisions to previous estimates were conducted to ensure accuracy and reliability. All inventory and calf crop estimates for July 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, were reviewed using updated data on calf crop, official slaughter records, import and export statistics, and new survey information.
Based on this review:
• The estimate for all cows and heifers that have calved decreased by 0.3% as of July 1, 2023, and by 0.6% as of January 1, 2024.
• The 2023 calf crop estimate was revised downward by 0.1%.
State-level estimates were also reviewed, leading to reallocations of inventory figures to align with the United States total. For example, the inventory of beef cows that have calved in Nebraska was adjusted downward by 4%, while milk cow inventories in California remained relatively stable, increasing by only 1%.
Revisions are an ongoing process aimed at improving year-to-year and item-to-item relationships. Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when current estimates are prepared, with updates primarily driven by livestock slaughter data, foreign trade figures, and additional survey results. Furthermore, estimates will be reviewed after the release of data from the five-year Census of Agriculture, after which no further revisions will be made.
The reliability of these estimates is supported by rigorous statistical methodologies. Over the past 10 years, the "Root Mean Square Error" for all cattle and calves inventory estimates has averaged 0.4%, meaning there is a 2-in-3 chance that the final estimate will not deviate from the current estimate by more than 0.4%. At the 90% confidence level, this margin increases to 0.7%. Historical data shows that changes between the first and latest estimates have averaged 234,000 head, ranging from 0 to 627,000 head.
All together, these program adjustments and revisions underscore the commitment to delivering precise and actionable insights into the cattle sector. By balancing comprehensive data collection with operational efficiency, stakeholders can make much more informed decisions regarding production planning, pricing strategies, and resource allocation. This approach ensures that users receive reliable and up-to-date information to navigate the complexities of modern agriculture.
CEO Mind-Money.eu
👉 mind-money.eu
Personal website of Julia Khandoshko:
👉 iuliia-khandoshko.com/
👉 mind-money.eu
Personal website of Julia Khandoshko:
👉 iuliia-khandoshko.com/
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.
CEO Mind-Money.eu
👉 mind-money.eu
Personal website of Julia Khandoshko:
👉 iuliia-khandoshko.com/
👉 mind-money.eu
Personal website of Julia Khandoshko:
👉 iuliia-khandoshko.com/
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.