North Dakota Starts New Year with 6 Percent Fewer Cattle

All cattle and calves in North Dakota as of January 1, 2023, totaled 1.75 million head, down 6% from January 1, 2022, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

All cows and heifers that had calved totaled 890,000 head, down 6% from last year.

Beef cows totaled 876,000 head, down 6% from last year.

Milk cows totaled 14,000 head, down 7% from last year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over totaled 385,000 head, down 8% from last year.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 305,000 head, down 2% from last year.

Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 55,000 head, down 8% from last year.

Calves under 500 pounds totaled 115,000 head, down 12% from January 1, 2022.

All cattle on feed fed for slaughter in North Dakota feedlots totaled 41,000 head, up 5% from the previous year.

The 2022 calf crop totaled 850,000 head, down 8% from 2021.

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2023 totaled 89.3 million head, 3 % below the 92.1 million head on January 1, 2022. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 38.3 million head, were 3 below the 39.4 million head on January 1, 2022. Beef cows, at 28.9 million head, were down 4 % from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.40 million head, were up slightly from the previous year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2023 totaled 19.2 million head, 4% below the 19.9 million head on January 1, 2022. Beef replacement heifers, at 5.16 million head, were down 6% from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.34 million head, were down 2% from the previous year. Other heifers, at 9.67 million head, were down 3% from a year earlier. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2023 totaled 16.1 million head, down 3% from January 1, 2022. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2023 totaled 2.03 million head, down 4% from January 1, 2022. Calves under 500 pounds as of January 1, 2023 totaled 13.6 million head, down 3% from January 1, 2022.

The 2022 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from the previous year's calf crop.