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Iowa Cattle Facts

Iowa Cattle Industry Statistics

Total Cattle Inventory in Iowa (as of January 1, 2026; -1.4%)

State Rank All Cattle and Calves (January 1, 2026)

Cattle on Feed in Iowa (January 1, 2026; -2.5%)

State Rank Cattle and Calves on Feed (January 1, 2026)

Number of Feedlots (2022 Census)

Number of Cattle Operations (2022 Census)

Number of Farms with Beef Cows (2022 Census)

Number of Beef Cows (January 1, 2026; -1.2%)

State Rank Number of Beef Cows (January 1, 2026)

Number of Farms with Dairy Cows (2022 Census)

Number of Dairy Cows (January 1, 2026; 0.0%)

State Rank Number of Dairy Cows (January 1, 2026)

Cash Receipts from Cattle and Calves (2024)

Iowa Jobs Directly Related to the Cattle Industry (2023)

Iowa Jobs Indirectly Related to the Cattle Industry (2023)

Iowa Jobs Induced by the Iowa Cattle Industry (2023)

3,450,000

Eighth

1,180,000

Fourth

4,102

21,750

17,214

815,000

Thirteenth

1,016

245,000

Eleventh

$6.19 Billion

16,665

9,308

5,079

In 2023, Iowa's cattle industry contributed in excess of $9.45 billion in business activity to Iowa's economy.

Sources: Department of Economics, Iowa State University; Iowa Agricultural Statistics, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 2024 Cattle Report and 2022 Census of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

U.S. Cattle Industry Statistics

Cattle Inventory as of January 1, 2026 (USDA NASS)

2024 Estimated Economic Impact (USDA NASS)

2022 Number of Cow Herds (2022 Census)

Number of Beef Cows (January 1, 2026; USDA NASS)

Number of Dairy Cows (January 1, 2026; USDA NASS)

2025 Calf Crop (USDA NASS)

Cow Herds with Less Than 100 Cows (2022 Census)

2025 Beef and Beef Variety Exports (USMEF)

Top Beef Export Markets (USMEF)

Top 5 States for Cattle On Feed (January 1, 2026; USDA NASS)

  1. Nebraska – 2,800,000 hd; +2.02%
  2. Texas – 2,540,000 hd; -1.41%
  3. Kansas – 2,480,000 hd; +0.48%
  4. Iowa – 1,180,000 hd; -2.0%
  5. Colorado – 920,000 hd; -10.32%

54% of total value of U.S. sales of cattle and calves comes from the Top 5 states with cattle on feed inventory. (2022; USDA NASS)

  1. Texas
  2. Nebraska
  3. Kansas
  4. Iowa
  5. Colorado

Feedyard cost of gain (2026; ISU Estimated Livestock Returns-Finishing Yearling Steers)

Average producer age (2022 Census)

Number of Cattle Harvested Under USDA Inspection (2023; USDA NASS)

86.2 Million (-0.4%)

$112.1 Billion in Farm Gate Cash Receipts

647,254

27.6 Million (-1%)

9.57 Million (+2%)

32.9 Million (-2%)

88%

1.14 Million Metric Tons (2.51 lbs.); $9.33 Billion

South Korea, Japan, China/Hong Kong, Mexico and Canada











$1.08/lb.

58.3 Beef Cattle Farmers and Ranchers; 54.9 Cattle Feedlots

32.233 Million Head; 26.547 Billion lbs. of commercial, federally inspected beef production; Average Dressed Weight: 826 lbs.

Sources: USDA NASS - National Agricultural Statistics Service; USMEF - United States Meat Export Federation