February 12,2007

All cattle and calves on hand Jan. 1 in Nebraska totaled 6.65 million head, up 2% from 2006. All cows on hand Jan. 1, at 2.0 million head, were 1% above last year. The 2006 calf crop totaled 1.82 million head, up 1% from 2005. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all Nebraska feedlots on Jan. 1 totaled a record 2.7 million head, up 4% from last year.

Nationally, all cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled 97 million head, slightly above a year ago. All cows and heifers that calved, at 42 million, were down slightly from the 42.1 million of Jan. 1, 2006. The 2006 calf crop was estimated at 37.6 million head, down slightly from 2005. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots on Jan. 1 were 14.3 million head, up 1% from last year.