The cattle inventory is experiencing the highest increase in U.S. cattle inventory in 35 years. This retrospective of 100 years of history lends perspective to the ups and downs of the cattle industry.
Source: Cattle Trader Center, January 31, 2016.
The cattle inventory reached 100 million head for the first time in 1962. It remained over 100 million for 26 years until 1988. The cattle inventory peaked in 1975 at 132 million head. The numbers reached 100 million again in 1994 and lasted until 1997. The cattle inventory has never been over 100 million head since 1997.
INSIGHTS: References like this are interesting to livestock veterinarians, their teams and customers. As animal health pros, it is helpful to provide industry perspective during customer discussions.