All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.5 million, were down 1% from the 41 million on Jan. 1, 2009. Beef cows, at 31.4 million, were down 1% from Jan. 1, 2009. Milk cows, at 9.1 million, were down 3% from January 1, 2009.
Other class estimates on Jan. 1, 2010, and the change from Jan. 1, 2009, are:
• All heifers 500 lbs. and over, 19.7 million, up slightly.
• Beef replacement heifers, 5.4 million, down 2%.
• Milk replacement heifers, 4.5 million, up 2%.
• Other heifers, 9.7 million, up 1%.
• Steers weighing 500 lbs. and over, 16.4 million, down 2%.
• Bulls weighing 500 lbs. and over, 2.2 million, up slightly.
• Calves under 500 lbs., 14.9 million, up slightly.
• Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots, 13.6 million, down 2%.
• The combined total of calves under 500 lbs., and other heifers and steers over 500 lbs. outside of feedlots was 27.5 million, down slightly.
The 2009 calf crop was estimated at 35.8 million head, down 1% from 2008. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 26 million, down 1% from 2008.
