Is Herd Rebuilding Happening…and Where?

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

 

The January 1, 2025 beef cow inventory was 27.86 million head, down 0.5 percent from the previous year.  Was 2025 the smallest cow herd inventory for the current cattle cycle?  It is looking more likely that it might be the low.  Herd growth this year depends on the amount of cow culling relative to the supply of bred heifers that will enter the herd during the year.  Although the inventory of bred heifers was record low, beef cow slaughter is down 16.2 percent for the first 21 weeks of the year – indicating a low level of cow culling that might allow for a fractional increase in the beef cow herd this year.     

 

Where would beef cow herd growth be most likely if it is beginning.  The January data showed that seven of the top ten beef cow states had beef cow inventories that were unchanged or were up slightly.   Missouri had two percent more beef cows while Texas, Oklahoma, Montana and North Dakota were up one percent year over year.  Kansas and Florida had the same number of beef cows as the year prior.  Moreover, while the total beef replacement heifer inventory was down one percent year over year, several states had heifer inventories that were up, including Kansas, up 3 percent, and Oklahoma and South Dakota up two percent from the previous year.  Montana, Missouri, North Dakota, Wyoming and Florida had beef replacement heifer inventories unchanged from the prior year.  It would appear that a number of major beef cow states are interested in herd rebuilding.

 

However, forage conditions continue to be a limiting factor in some regions.  The latest Drought Monitor (Figure 1) shows that the central and northern Plains and much of the Rocky Mountain regions are still struggling with drought. 

 

 

Figure 1. US Drought Monitor for June 10, 2025 (Released Thursday, Jun. 12, 2025) Valid 8 a.m. EDT

 

Drought Impact Types:

• SI Delineates dominant impacts
• S = Short-Term, typically less than 6 months (e.g. agriculture, grasslands)
• L = Long-Term, typically greater than 6 months (e.g. hydrology, ecology)

Intensity: 

• White - None
• Yellow - DO Abnormally Dry
• pink - D1 Moderate Drought
• Orange - D2 Severe Drought
• Red - D3 Extreme Drought
• Black - D4 Exceptional Drought

The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions.
Local conditions may vary. For more information on the Drought Monitor, go to U.S. Drought Monitor , About page,

Author: Lindsay Johnson: National Drought Mitigation Center;

 

Current reported range conditions show that 51 percent of Montana and 42 percent of Nebraska pastures and ranges are in poor to very poor condition.  Additionally, 38 percent of Wyoming and 24 percent of South Dakota ranges are in poor to very poor condition.  Texas reports 30 percent poor to very poor pastures, confined to the southwest part of the state.  At the other extreme, Missouri reports just 1 percent of pastures in poor to very poor condition, along with Oklahoma at six percent.  Among the top ten beef cow states, Kentucky also reports just five percent of pastures in poor to very poor condition. Drought is not a factor across much of the Gulf Coast, Appalachian, and Southeast regions (with the exception of Florida).

 

Though there is no data confirmation yet, it seems likely that heifer retention may be underway in several areas including the Southern Plains and points east.  However, it is doubtful that much aggressive restocking or herd rebuilding is in progress in several major beef cow states from Nebraska north and west. In total it is likely to still be a slow pace of herd rebuilding.

 

Derrell Peel, OSU Extension livestock specialist, discusses how beef production has declined significantly since April affecting beef prices on SunUpTV from June 14, 2025 at (YouTube) Livestock Marketing - June 14, 2025

 

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Proper Storage and Handling of Vaccines

Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

 

Bovine Respiratory Disease in cattle (also known as BRD, shipping fever or pneumonia), costs the U.S. cattle industry in excess of $2 billion annually. A proper vaccination program, applied before calves leave the ranch of origin, can reduce the incidence of BRD and is a key management practice in maintaining the health of a calf all the way through the production system. A vaccine can be rendered ineffective if not stored, handled and administered properly. Therefore, producers need to have a system in place to properly store and handle vaccines prior to administration.

 

Vaccines should always be refrigerated at 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit unless the nature of the product makes storing at a different temperature advisable. Vaccines should also be kept out of direct sunlight.

 

Chute side vaccine storage during the day of vaccination, is easy to overlook, especially when working large groups of calves during the spring and summer. However, with some planning and time spent in construction, an easy, cost-effective solution is readily available. Building a vaccine/syringe cooler to use while processing livestock may not only help maintain vaccine temperature, but also keep vaccine and syringes out of direct sunlight. All of the materials to assemble a vaccine cooler can be purchased at a local hardware store for around $35. A chute side vaccination cooler can be easily cleaned and is built so that syringes and needles do not come in contact with other contents of the cooler. The size of the cooler and configuration of the syringe holsters can be modified to meet producer’s specific needs. More details about construction and materials needed for a chute side cooler are available in the fact sheet referenced below. 

 

Reference: Chute Side Vaccine Cooler

 

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New World Screwworm Continues North

Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service Beef Cattle Specialist

 

The threat of New World Screwworm (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax, continues to plague cattle producers in Mexico. Eradicated from the continental U.S., this parasitic fly poses growing risks to livestock, wildlife, and humans as its range has expanded moving northward in Mexico.

 

In November 2024, NWS reappeared in Mexico, marking its first confirmed sighting since U.S. eradication efforts pushed it south in the 1970s. To protect the U.S., ruminant movement from Mexico was halted. In February 2025, live ruminant imports briefly resumed under strict pre-clearance protocols. However, the fly has now spread closer, approximately 700 miles from the U.S. border, effectively a trailer ride from southern border ports. On May 11, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports from southern border ports into the U.S.

 

The NWS larvae infest open wounds and feed on live tissue, unlike other maggots that feed on dead tissue. Infected animals experience significant pain, swelling, foul odor, and infection. If left untreated, the infestation can lead to severe tissue damage and even death. A female fly typically lays eggs near open wounds, mucous membranes, or body orifices. In cattle, the primary risk of screwworm infestation comes from exposed tissue such as areas created during branding, tagging, dehorning, or castration. Even minor injuries, such as a tick bite, and the umbilicus of newborns are vulnerable.

 

The NWS female fly only mates once in its lifetime. Control measures have historically focused on sterile insect technique by releasing sterile male flies. The USDA is evaluating and supporting control measures in collaboration with Mexico as the fly continues to move north. In the U.S., the USDA, state animal health officials, and industry stakeholders are collaborating to develop educational materials and response plans in preparation for potential NWS outbreaks.

 

So, what can cattlemen and other animal owners do to prepare?

• Examine animals daily especially after processing.
• Build a relationship with a veterinarian and have a plan in place for communication and treatment if an animal shows signs of illness or disease.
• Utilize biosecurity protocols to limit animal movement and unnecessary exposure to disease.
• Stay alert of disease announcements in the operation’s area.
• Report clinical signs consistent with NWS to a veterinarian or the State Veterinarian’s office.

 

As new information is released regarding the status of New World Screwworm, [Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)], we will provide updates on this page New World Screwworm Information