by Rob Cook
Twenty two states had increases in their cattle inventories in 2015. Texas had the largest increase in cattle inventory in 2015 in the United States followed by Oklahoma and Kansas.
The cattle inventory in Texas in 2015 increased by a whopping 700k head. Texas had a larger increase than Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri combined.
Nine states had their cattle inventory increase 50K or more head in 2015, while 17 states saw cattle inventories decrease, with California and North Dakota showing the largest decreases.
| United States | 88,526,000 | 89,800,000 | 1,274,000 | |
| Rank | State | 2014 | 2015 | Difference |
| 1 | Texas | 11,100,000 | 11,800,000 | 700,000 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 4,300,000 | 4,600,000 | 300,000 |
| 3 | Kansas | 5,800,000 | 6,000,000 | 200,000 |
| 4 | Missouri | 3,850,000 | 4,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,800,000 | 3,900,000 | 100,000 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 3,400,000 | 3,500,000 | 100,000 |
| 7 | Idaho | 2,240,000 | 2,300,000 | 60,000 |
| 8 | Colorado | 2,550,000 | 2,600,000 | 50,000 |
| 9 | Nebraska | 6,250,000 | 6,300,000 | 50,000 |
| 10 | Washington | 1,110,000 | 1,150,000 | 40,000 |
| 11 | Florida | 1,670,000 | 1,700,000 | 30,000 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 2,300,000 | 2,330,000 | 30,000 |
| 13 | New Mexico | 1,310,000 | 1,340,000 | 30,000 |
| 14 | Wyoming | 1,270,000 | 1,300,000 | 30,000 |
| 15 | Oregon | 1,280,000 | 1,300,000 | 20,000 |
| 16 | Illinois | 1,130,000 | 1,140,000 | 10,000 |
| 17 | Indiana | 860,000 | 870,000 | 10,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | 1,130,000 | 1,140,000 | 10,000 |
| 19 | Maryland | 182,000 | 185,000 | 3,000 |
| 20 | Hawaii | 133,000 | 135,000 | 2,000 |
| 21 | Delaware | 16,000 | 17,000 | 1,000 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 27,000 | 28,000 | 1,000 |
| 23 | Alaska | 10,000 | 10,000 | 0 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 47,000 | 47,000 | 0 |
| 25 | Georgia | 1,040,000 | 1,040,000 | 0 |
| 26 | Louisiana | 790,000 | 790,000 | 0 |
| 27 | Maine | 85,000 | 85,000 | 0 |
| 28 | New York | 1,450,000 | 1,450,000 | 0 |
| 29 | Ohio | 1,250,000 | 1,250,000 | 0 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | 5,000 | 5,000 | 0 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 335,000 | 335,000 | 0 |
| 32 | South Dakota | 3,700,000 | 3,700,000 | 0 |
| 33 | Vermont | 260,000 | 260,000 | 0 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | 39,000 | 38,000 | -1,000 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | 32,000 | 30,000 | -2,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | 1,650,000 | 1,640,000 | -10,000 |
| 37 | North Carolina | 810,000 | 800,000 | -10,000 |
| 38 | West Virginia | 385,000 | 370,000 | -15,000 |
| 39 | Mississippi | 930,000 | 910,000 | -20,000 |
| 40 | Nevada | 460,000 | 435,000 | -25,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 1,760,000 | 1,730,000 | -30,000 |
| 42 | Utah | 810,000 | 780,000 | -30,000 |
| 43 | Arizona | 920,000 | 880,000 | -40,000 |
| 44 | Virginia | 1,510,000 | 1,470,000 | -40,000 |
| 45 | Alabama | 1,270,000 | 1,220,000 | -50,000 |
| 46 | Kentucky | 2,110,000 | 2,060,000 | -50,000 |
| 47 | Montana | 2,550,000 | 2,500,000 | -50,000 |
| 48 | Pennsylvania | 1,610,000 | 1,530,000 | -80,000 |
| 49 | California | 5,250,000 | 5,150,000 | -100,000 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 1,750,000 | 1,650,000 | -100,000 |
Source: Drover's Cattle Network
