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CATTLE

KANSAS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
Kansas Department of Agriculture
PO Box 3534
Topeka, KS 66601-3534
Phone: 785-233-2230

Released: January 31, 2003


KANSAS JANUARY CATTLE INVENTORY DOWN 4 PERCENT

All cattle and calves on Kansas farms and ranches on January 1, 2003 totaled 6.35 million head (see table 1), down 4 percent from the January 1, 2002 level of 6.60 million head. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 1.63 million, were up 2 percent from a year earlier. Beef cow inventory was estimated at 1.53 million, up 1 percent from last year's revised level of 1.51 million head. Milk cows, at 105,000 head, were up 11 percent when compared to the January 1, 2002 level. Bulls over 500 pounds totaled 90,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year. Beef replacement heifers, at 250,000 head, were up 9 percent from the previous year. Milk replacement heifers, at 50,000 head, increased 25 percent from last year. Other heifers over 500 pounds decreased 2 percent from last year's level of 1.65 million head. Steers over 500 pounds, at 1.97 million head, were down 14 percent from the previous year's number. As of January 1, 2003 there were 2.24 million head on feed for the slaughter market, 11 percent fewer than the previous January. Calves under 500 pounds totaled 740,000 head, 4 percent above the revised January 1, 2002 figure of 715,000 head. The 2002 calf crop, at 1.51 million head, was up 2 percent from last year.

During 2002, a total of 34,000 cattle farms, 28,000 beef cow farms, and 1,200 milk cow farms were operating in Kansas.

Text Box

Cattle inventory value and value per head for Kansas and the U.S. will be published in the Agricultural Prices report on February 28, 2003 .


U.S. CATTLE INVENTORY DOWN 1 PERCENT

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2003, totaled 96.1 million head, 1 percent below the 96.7 million on January 1, 2002 and 1 percent below the 97.3 million two years ago. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.1 million, were down slightly from the 42.2 million on January 1, 2002 and down 1 percent from the 42.6 million two years ago. Beef cows, at 32.95 million, were down 1 percent from both January 1, 2002 and January 1, 2001. Milk cows, at 9.15 million, were up slightly from January 1, 2002 but down slightly from two years ago. Other class estimates on January 1, 2003, and the changes from January 1, 2002 are as follows: all heifers 500 pounds and over, 19.6 million, down slightly; beef replacement heifers, 5.61 million, up 1 percent; milk replacement heifers, 4.10 million, up 1 percent; other heifers, 9.89 million, down 2 percent; steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 16.6 million, down 1 percent; bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.25 million, up slightly; calves under 500 pounds, 15.6 million, down 1 percent; and all cattle and calves on feed for slaughter, 12.9 million, down 7 percent. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds outside of feedlots, was 29.1 million, up 1 percent. The 2002 calf crop was estimated at 38.2 million head, down slightly from 2001 and down 1 percent from 2000. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 27.9 million, down 1 percent from 2001 and down 2 percent from 2000.

The number of operations with cattle totaled 1.03 million during 2002, down 2 percent from 2001 and

4 percent below 2000. Beef cow operations in 2002 were down 1 percent from 2001 and 3 percent below 1999. Milk cow operations were 6 percent below last year and 13 percent below two years ago.

SPECIAL NOTE:
Data for beef cow and milk cow replacement heifers expected to calve in the U.S. during the coming year and the number of calves, other heifers, and steers grazing small grain pasture in the combined three state region of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas are being published in this issue for the third time. These data will be published on an annual basis in the January release.

    .    Beef replacement heifers expected to calve in the U.S. during 2003 totaled 3.54 million.
    .    Milk replacement heifers expected to calve in the U.S. during 2003 totaled 2.82 million.
    .    Calves, other heifers, and steers grazing on small grain pasture in the three state region totaled 3.70 million head.

Table 1-- CATTLE AND CALVES: Number by Class, Calf Crop, and Operations, Jan. 1, 2001-2003
Class
2001 2002 2003 % of
Prev. Yr.

KANSAS 		1,000 Head Percent
Cattle and Calves 6,700 6,600 6,350 96
Cows & Heifers That Have Calved 1,620 1,600 1,630 102
Beef Cows 1,524 1,505 1,525 101
Milk Cows 96 95 105 111
Heifers 500 Pounds & Over 1,975 1,920 1,920 100
For Beef Cow Replacement 235 230 250 109
Expected to Calve 1/ 133 155 160 103
For Milk Cow Replacement 70 40 50 125
Expected to Calve 1/ 42 32 30 94
Other Heifers 1,670 1,650 1,620 98
Steers 500 Pounds & Over 2,260 2,280 1,970 86
Bulls 500 Pounds & Over 85 85 90 106
Calves Under 500 Pounds 760 715 740 104
Calf Crop 2/ 1,480 1,480 1,510 102
Cattle on Feed 2,450 2,530 2,240 89
Number
Operations with Cattle 35,000 34,000 -- 97
Operations with Beef Cows 29,000 28,000 -- 97
Operations with Milk Cows 1,200 1,200 -- 100
UNITED STATES 1,000 Head
Cattle and Calves 97,277 96,704 96,106 99
Cows & Heifers That Have Calved 42,580 42,229 42,099 100
Beef Cows 33,397 33,118 32,947 99
Milk Cows 9,183 9,112 9,152 100
Heifers 500 Pounds & Over 19,776 19,678 19,601 100
For Beef Cow Replacement 5,588 5,561 5,608 101
Expected to Calve 1/ 3,337 3,425 3,535 103
For Milk Cow Replacement 4,057 4,060 4,104 101
Expected to Calve 1/ 2,696 2,798 2,822 101
Other Heifers 10,131 10,057 9,890 98
Steers 500 Pounds & Over 16,441 16,790 16,590 99
Bulls 500 Pounds & Over 2,274 2,244 2,253 100
Calves Under 500 Pounds 16,206 15,763 15,563 99
Calf Crop 2/ 38,631 38,280 38,193 100
Cattle on Feed 14,201 13,860 12,916 93
Number
Operations with Cattle 1,049,910 1,032,670 -- 98
Operations with Beef Cows 813,650 805,080 -- 99
Operations with Milk Cows 97,510 91,990 -- 94
1/ Replacement heifers expected to calve during the year. Data not available prior to 2001.
2/ Calf crop is for the previous year.

Table 2-- CATTLE AND CALVES: Number by Class, July 1, 2001-2002
Class 2001 2002 % of Prev. Yr.

KANSAS 		1,000 Head Percent
Cattle and Calves 6,900 6,550 95
Cows & Heifers That Have Calved 1,730 1,650 95
Beef Cows 1,640 1,547 94
Milk Cows 90 103 114
UNITED STATES
Cattle and Calves 105,800 105,100 99
Cows & Heifers That Have Calved 43,000 42,900 100
Beef Cows 33,900 33,750 100
Milk Cows 9,100 9,150 101
Heifers 500 Pounds and Over 16,400 16,200 99
For Beef Cow Replacement 4,600 4,600 100
For Milk Cow Replacement 3,600 3,700 103
Other Heifers 8,200 7,900 96
Steers 500 Pounds and Over 14,600 14,500 99
Bulls 500 Pounds and Over 2,100 2,100 100
Calves Under 500 Pounds 29,700 29,400 99
Cattle on Feed 13,000 12,400 95


Dave Ranek & Dan Kolterman, Agricultural Statisticians
Eldon J. Thiessen, State Statistician
Eddie Wells, Deputy State Statistician

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