Indiana Cattle Inventory Report

By Andi Anderson

The cattle inventory report for Indiana as of January 1, 2024, indicates that the total number of cattle and calves in the state is 790,000 head, which is unchanged from the previous year. Here are some key points from the report:

• Beef cow numbers increased by 1 percent, totaling 180,000 head.
• Beef replacement heifers increased by 7 percent, reaching 32,000 head.
• Milk cows increased by 2 percent, totaling 190,000 head, and heifers for milk cow replacement increased by 6 percent, reaching 55,000 head.
• The calf crop for 2023 was 345,000 head, reflecting a 5 percent increase from the previous year's 2022 calf crop.

On a national level, the United States' total cattle and calves as of January 1, 2024, amounted to 87.2 million head, a 2 percent decrease from the previous year's 88.8 million head. Key figures for the U.S. include:

• All cows and heifers that have calved were 2 percent below the previous year, totaling 37.6 million head.
• Beef cows were down by 2 percent, reaching 28.2 million head.
• Milk cows slightly decreased to 9.36 million head.
• All heifers 500 pounds and over totaled 18.5 million head, representing a 1 percent decrease from the previous year.
• Beef replacement heifers were down by 1 percent, totaling 4.86 million head.
• Milk replacement heifers were slightly down at 4.06 million head.
• Other heifers decreased by 2 percent, reaching 9.57 million head.

The cattle inventory by class for both Indiana and the United States is summarized in the table provided in the information. It includes categories such as all cattle and calves, cows, replacement heifers, steers 500 pounds and over, bulls 500 pounds and over, calves under 500 pounds, and cattle on feed. The numbers are presented in thousands (1,000 head) for the years 2023 and 2024.

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