Ranking Of States With The Most Beef Cows
The United States is home to a vast cattle industry, with a total of 27,863,500 beef cows spread across the country. However, the distribution of these beef cows is not uniform, as certain states dominate the industry...
Ranking Of States With The Most Beef Cows
The United States is home to a vast cattle industry, with a total of 27,863,500 beef cows spread across the country. However, the distribution of these beef cows is not uniform, as certain states dominate the industry. The top 10 states alone account for more than 57% of all beef cows in the U.S., reinforcing their role as key contributors to the nation’s beef production.
Texas holds the number one ranking by a wide margin, boasting 4,075,000 beef cows, which represents 14.62% of the entire U.S. total. The Lone Star State’s vast rangelands, favorable climate, and well-established cattle infrastructure make it the undisputed leader in beef cow production. Oklahoma follows in second place with 1.95 million beef cows (7.00%), and Missouri comes in third with 1.86 million (6.69%), demonstrating the importance of the Southern Plains and Midwest in cattle production.
Seven states have over 1 million beef cows, highlighting their significant impact on the industry. Nebraska (1.55M), South Dakota (1.45M), Montana (1.25M), and Kansas (1.23M) all surpass this mark, reflecting their deep-rooted ranching traditions and expansive grazing lands. The remaining top 10 states, North Dakota (870K), Kentucky (869K), and Florida (865K), contribute just under a million beef cows each, rounding out the leading cattle-producing states.
