SOUTH DAKOTA BEEF INDUSTRY FACTS - 2006

BEEF PRODUCTION IN SOUTH DAKOTA:

ü     There were approximately 982,000 ranchers and cattlemen in the United States during 2005, conducting business in all 50 states and contributing economically to nearly every county in the nation.

ü     In South Dakota there are approximately 17,000 ranchers and cattlemen, and 800 dairy farmers. (during 2005)

ü     In 2004, U.S. cash receipts from livestock and livestock products marketed  totaled $123.5 billion – over half of the total . dollars for all farm cash receipts in 2004 ($241 billion).

ü     In South Dakota in 2004, cash receipts from cattle totaled $1.64 billion.

ü     In South Dakota, the cattle industry is a family business with nearly all of the cattle businesses having been in the same families for more than 25 years. Nationwide, 80 percent of the cattle businesses have been in the same families for more than 25 years; 10 percent for more than 100 years.

ü     On Jan. 1, 2006 there were 97.1 million head of cattle in the United States and 3.75 million head in South Dakota. Nationally that is 1.7 percent more than a year earlier and in South Dakota, it is 1.4% more than one year ago.

ü     Total beef production in the United States during 2005 was 24.8 billion pounds (32.4 million head of cattle). In 2005, cattle averaged 1,256 lbs. before harvest. The 2005 average carcass weight was 769 lbs., which translates into about 538 lbs. of beef.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

ü     Cattle and calves account for 34% of total cash receipts (farm income-take out) in SD in 2004.

ü     South Dakota ranks 8th in all cattle and calves in the nation as of Jan 1, 2006.

ü     South Dakota ranks 7th in cattle on feed for slaughter as of Jan 1, 2006.

ü     South Dakota ranked 24th in milk production during 2005 with 81,000 milk cows on Jan. 1, 2006