US Cattle Inventory Forecast Falls to Lowest Level in Nearly a Decade: USDA

Drought, increased slaughter contribute to decline

A view of cattle ruminating around Frank Konyn Dairy Inc. in Escondido, Calif., on April 16, 2020. Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images

Declining cattle production and drought conditions contributed to a sizable drop in beef supplies last year, the lowest in nearly a decade, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As of Jan. 1, there were 89.3 million head of cattle, down 3 percent from a year ago; and 29 million beef cows bred for slaughter in the United States, down 4 percent from 2022.