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NASS: U.S. cattle inventory at 94.2 million head on July 1, 2026, up 0.2%
Summary
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported U.S. all cattle and calves at 94,200,000 head on July 1, 2026, a 0.2% increase from 2025, and placed the figure in a 2006–2026 historical context including years when the July survey was not conducted due to funding.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that the U.S. all cattle and calves inventory stood at 94,200,000 head on July 1, 2026, a 0.2% increase from 2025, NASS livestock-branch chief Travis Averell said at the agency's July briefing.
Averell placed the total in a 2006–2026 historical series, noting the latest cattle cycle began in 2014 (95,700,000 head) and peaked in 2018 (102,700,000 head). He also told attendees that NASS did not conduct the July cattle survey in 2013, 2016 and 2024 because of reduced funding, a factor that produces gaps in the multi-year chart. "US all cattle and calves are at 94,200,000 head, up 0.2 percent from 2025," Averell said. The briefing reiterated that the official published estimates should be consulted if any discrepancy appears between the briefing and the finalized release.
The presenter noted class-level totals elsewhere in the release, including cows and heifers that have calved at 38,100,000 head (unchanged from 2025), beef cows at 28,450,000 head (down 200,000), and milk cows at 9,650,000 head (up 2.1%). The briefing materials and charts are posted on the NASS website for users requiring the full tables and county- or state-level breakdowns.
