Cattle inventory in Virginia stable at 1.32 million head

RICHMOND, VA - The Virginia cattle and calf inventory for January 1, 2025 was estimated at 1.32 million head according to the Virginia Field Office of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Total inventory was unchanged from last year.

While the cattle inventory in Virginia was stable in 2024, the national cattle inventory decreased by half a million head, according to USDA. Image credit Mark Stebnicki / Pexels

Cows and heifers in Virginia that have calved were estimated at 640,000 head, unchanged head from 2024. Beef cow inventory was estimated at 574,000 head and milk cows were estimated at 66,000 head.

Heifers 500 lbs. and over in Virginia were estimated at 180,000 head, up 2,000 head from last year's estimate. Beef replacement heifers totaled 83,000 head, up 4,000 from January 2024. Dairy heifers, at 35,000 head, were up 2,000 from 2024. Other heifers, at 62,000 head, were down 4,000 from the previous year.

Steers 500 lbs. and over in Virginia numbered 148,000 head, down 3,000 from 2024. Bulls 500 lbs. and over were up 1,000 head from a year ago and numbered 37,000 head. Calves less than 500 lbs. were estimated at 315,000 head, unchanged from the 2024 estimate. Cattle on feed were estimated at 0.00 head, down 14,000 from the previous year.

The 2024 Virginia calf crop was estimated at 610,000 head, unchanged from the previous year's estimate.

National Cattle Inventory

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2025 totaled 86.7 million head, 1% below the 87.2 million head on January 1, 2024. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 37.2 million head, were slightly below the 37.4 million head on January 1, 2024. Beef cows, at 27.9 million head, were down 1% from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.35 million head, were up slightly from the previous year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2025 totaled 18.2 million head, 1% below the 18.3 million head on January 1, 2024. Beef replacement heifers, at 4.67 million head, were down 1% from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 3.91 million head, were down 1% from the previous year. Other heifers, at 9.59 million head, were down 1% from a year earlier.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2025 totaled 15.8 million head, down 1% from January 1, 2024. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2025 totaled 2.01 million head, down 1% from January 1, 2024. Calves under 500 pounds as of January 1, 2025 totaled 13.5 million head, down slightly from January 1, 2024.

The 2024 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 33.5 million head, down slightly from the previous year's calf crop.