According to the January 2026 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Cattle Inventory report, the U.S. cattle herd remains at its lowest level in more than seventy years. Total cattle and calves were reported at 86.2 million head as of January 1, 2026, down from 86.5 million in 2025, and beef cows declined again to 27.6 million head. The 2025 calf crop was estimated at 32.9 million head, reflecting fewer calves entering the national supply in the years ahead. When national inventories fal