The total U.S. calf crop in 2016 was up 3% from the previous year, totaling 35.1 million head. Texas led the way with 4.25 million head in 2016, followed by Missouri and Oklahoma with 1.89 and 1.87 million, respectively. Iowa was the 10 th highest state in 2016 at 1.09 million head, which was a 3% increase over the size of the 2015 Iowa calf crop. The calf crop in Kansas had an 11% increase from 2015 to 2016, and Missouri and Oklahoma both increased by 8%.

While many states have seen decreases in the size of their calf crop since 2010, Iowa and Kansas have experienced strong growth with the two largest increases in the number of head in their yearly calf crop. In Iowa, the size of the calf crop from 2010 to 2016 increased 80,000 head (8%), and Kansas saw an increase of 60,000 head (4%). Additionally, Arizona and Colorado both saw increases of 50,000 head, with Arizona having the largest percent increase (19%) from 2010 to 2016. During this time frame Texas and Oklahoma calf crops decreased by 11% and 2%, respectively.

Data Source: USDA/NASS