July 1 Cattle Inventory down 2 percent

All cattle and calves in the United States as of July 1, 2012, totaled 97.8 million head, 2 percent below the 100.0 million on July 1, 2011. This is the lowest all cattle and calves inventory for July 1 since the series began in 1973.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 39.7 million, were down 2 percent from July 1, 2011.

• Beef cows, at 30.5 million, were down 3 percent from July 1, 2011.
• Milk cows, at 9.2 million, unchanged from July 1, 2011.

Other class estimates on July 1, 2012 and the changes from July 1, 2011, are as follows:

• All heifers 500 pounds and over, 15.7 million, down 2 percent.
• Beef replacement heifers, 4.2 million, unchanged.
• Milk replacement heifers, 4.1 million, down 2 percent.
• Other heifers, 7.4 million, down 3 percent.
• Steers, weighing 500 pounds and over, 14.0 million, down 1 percent.
• Bulls, weighing 500 pounds and over, 1.9 million, down 5 percent.
• Calves under 500 pounds, 26.5 million, down 3 percent.
• All cattle and calves on feed for slaughter, 12.3 million, up 1 percent.

The 2012 calf crop is expected to be 34.5 million, down 2 percent from 2011. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 25.1 million, down 2 percent from 2011.

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