Top 5 States with the Most Cattle

19416490-g.jpeg

The cattle and beef industries are major commodities in the U.S.'s ag portfolio. According to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, in 2019, there were around 94.8 million head of cattle in the United States; this number is 500,000 more than the previous year. For 2018-2019, it is estimated that the cattle industry was worth between $66-70 billion dollars. Here are the top five states with the most cattle.

5) California: The “Golden State” is home to almost 40 million people and is the third largest state. Around 5.2 million head of cattle call this West Coast state home. The state had 1.7 million dairy cows that have calved and 1.86 million calf crop. In 2018, the state’s cattle and calf sector was worth around $3.1 billion.

4) Oklahoma: Oklahoma, aka the “Sooner State,” is known for major industries like energy, transportation, and aviation. However, it is also a key cattle state. The state just passes California with 5.3 million cattle. In that number, 2.15 million are beef cows. In 2018, the state’s cattle and calf sector was worth around $3.3 billion.

3) Kansas: This breadbasket state comes in third. The “Sunflower State” is home to over 6.3 million cattle, beating Oklahoma by a wide margin. It is also worth noting that, according to a recent census, the states population is just over 2.7 million. In 2018, the state’s cattle and calf sector was worth around $8.3 billion.

2) Nebraska: Nebraska has the second most cattle in the country. The “Cornhusker State” has around 1.9 million people living it it, but that pales in comparison to its more than 6.8 million head of cattle. Nebraska leads the nation in feeder cattle with 2.75 million. In 2018, the state’s cattle and calf sector was worth around $10.6 billion.

1) Texas: It is only natural that the second biggest state, in size and population, would have the most cattle. While the “Lone Star State” is only home to around 30 million people, its cattle industry has roughly 13 million heads. Texas also had the largest calf crop with 4.75 million, it is the largest beef cow state with 4.66 million but only 545 thousand dairy cows, making it fifth in the nation. In 2018, the state’s cattle and calf sector was worth around $8.6 billion.

Also check out the Top Beef Producing States.






Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.