• All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2008, totaled 96.7 million head, slightly below the 97.0 million on January 1, 2007.

 
• All cows and heifers that have calved, at 41.8 million, were down 1 percent from the 42.0 million on January 1, 2007

• Beef cows, at 32.6 million, were down 1 percent from January 1, 2007.

• Milk cows, at 9.22 million, were up 1 percent from January 1, 2007

Other class estimates on January 1, 2008, and the change from January 1, 2007, are as follows:

• All heifers 500 pounds and over, 20.0 million, down slightly.

• Beef replacement heifers, 5.67 million, down 4 percent.

• Milk replacement heifers, 4.46 million, up 3 percent.

• Other heifers, 9.88 million, down slightly.

• Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 17.3 million, up slightly.

• Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.21 million, down slightly.

• Calves under 500 pounds, 15.4 million, down 1 percent.

• Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots, 14.3 million, up slightly.

• The combined total of calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds outside of feedlots was 28.2 million, down slightly.

Calf Crop Down Slightly...

• The 2007 calf crop was estimated at 37.4 million head, down slightly from 2006.  Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 27.2 million, down 1 percent from 2006.