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Wisconsin livestock numbers above US trend

Wisconsin’s state livestock specialist says Badger state beef producers are growing their herds.

Jeff Swenson with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says, “Wisconsin actually, by percentage, had the largest growth of any state in the U.S.” He says Wisconsin’s beef cattle herd size is small compared to the major producing states, but Wisconsin producers increased their herds by 15-thousand head to a total of 275-thousand head, up 6%. “It was a big gain for Wisconsin. I think it was a little bit unexpected, and I will add to that a 1% gain in Texas and Oklahoma this year is a much larger gain by head than it is in Wisconsin but still, we’re putting more beef cows in the landscape here in this state.”

Swenson says it is unclear if the herd will keep growing. “Heifers kept for replacement on January 1st were 16% higher than a year ago. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re all going to turn into cows because we still have the opportunity to sell them as feeders.”

Swenson says Wisconsin’s beef herd increase is mostly true beef breeds and not because of the beef-on-dairy trend.

Swenson says it will be important to watch market prices and this spring’s pasture conditions to see if those new heifers stay home or go to the feed lot.

AUDIO: Jeff Swenson with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection discusses the state’s increases in the beef and sheep herds with Brownfield’s Larry Lee