KANSAS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
Kansas Department of Agriculture
632 SW Van Buren, Rm. 200, PO Box 3534
Topeka, KS 66601-3534
Phone: 785-233-2230

Released: January 30, 1998

KANSAS CATTLE INVENTORY DOWN

All cattle and calves on farms and ranches in Kansas on January 1, 1998 totaled 6.55 million head (see table 1), down 1 percent from the revised 6.6 million head last year, according to Kansas Agricultural Statistics. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 1.54 million, were down 2 percent from a year earlier. Beef cow inventories were estimated at 1.461 million, down 2 percent from last year's level of 1.489 million head. Milk cows, at 79,000 head, were down 2 percent when compared to the January 1, 1997 level. Bulls over 500 pounds totaled 80,000 head, down 6 percent from last year. Beef replacement heifers, at 230,000 head, were up 5 percent from the previous year's revised figure, while milk cow replacements, at 40,000 head, were down 11 percent. Other heifers over 500 pounds increased 1 percent from last year's level of 1.47 million head to 1.49 million head. Steers over 500 pounds, at 2.35 million head, were unchanged from the previous year's revised number. Calves under 500 pounds totaled 820,000 head, down 5 percent from the January 1, 1997 revised figure of 860,000 head. The 1997 calf crop, at 1.42 million head, was down 2 percent from last year's revised 1.45 million head. During 1997, a total of 37,000 cattle farms, 29,000 beef cow farms, and 1,100 milk cow farms were operating in Kansas

U.S. CATTLE INVENTORY DOWN

United States: All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 1998, totaled 99.5 million head, 2 percent below the 101.5 million on January 1, 1997 and 4 percent below the 103.5 million two years ago. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.9 million, were 2 percent below the 43.6 million on January 1, 1997 and 4 percent below the 44.6 million two years ago. Beef cows, at 33.7 million, were down 2 percent from January 1, 1997 and 4 percent below two years ago. Milk cows, at 9.19 million, were down 1 percent from January 1, 1997 and 2 percent below two years ago. Other class estimates on January 1, 1998, and the changes from January 1 last year and two years ago, respectively, are as follows: all heifers 500 pounds and over, 19.7 million, down 3 percent and down 2 percent; beef replacement heifers, 5.75 million, down 5 percent and down 7 percent; milk replacement heifers, 3.98 million, down 2 percent and down 3 percent; other heifers, 10.0 million, down 2 percent and up 1 percent; steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 17.2 million, down 1 percent and down 3 percent; bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.27 million, down 3 percent and down 5 percent; calves under 500 pounds, 17.4 million, down 3 percent and down 6 percent; and all cattle and calves on feed for slaughter, 13.6 million, up 3 percent and up 5 percent. The 1997 calf crop was estimated at 38.7 million, down 3 percent from 1996 and down 4 percent from 1995. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 28.5 million, down 3 percent from both 1996 and 1995.

The number of operations with cattle totaled 1,167,910 during 1997, down 2 percent from 1996 and 4 percent below 1995. Beef cow operations in 1997 were down 2 percent from 1996 and 3 percent below 1995. Milk cow operations were 8 percent below last year and 15 percent below two years ago.

Charles Ruckman & Mike Miller, Agricultural Statisticians
Eldon J. Thiessen, State Statistician
Eddie Wells, Deputy State Statistician

Return to KASS Home Page