All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled 87.7 million head, 2 percent below the 89.3 million on Jan. 1, 2013, a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said last week. This is the lowest Jan. 1 inventory of all cattle and calves since the 82.1 million on hand in 1951.

All cattle and calves in Iowa as of Jan. 1 totaled 3.7 million head, the report said. This was down from 3.85 million head on Jan. 1, 2013. All cows and heifers that have calved in the United States, at 38.3 million, were down 1 percent from the 38.5 million on Jan. 1, 2013.

This is the lowest Jan. 1...