During the first two weeks of July, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct a nationwide cattle survey to measure beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop and cattle operations in the United States.

“The July Cattle Survey provides California livestock producers the opportunity to serve as the frontline source of data on cattle,” said Vic Tolomeo, director of USDA-NASS, California Field Office.  “We will contact approximately 800 of California’s larger beef and dairy cattle operations.”

USDA-NASS representatives will contact each cattle producer, either by phone or a personal visit, during the first two weeks in July.

“Once published, the information collected will help producers make informed marketing decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction,” Tolomeo explained.  “It also helps packers and government agencies evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export.”

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. 

“NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified,” Tolomeo said.

NASS will publish the survey results in the biannual Cattle report, scheduled for release on July 22. The report will provide national-level estimates of total inventory, beef cows, milk cows, bulls, replacement heifers, other heifers, steers, calves and number of calves born during the previous year.