With over 4.3 million beef cows, Texas doesn't just lead the nation—it powers an economic engine that feeds billions of dollars and over a hundred thousand jobs into the Lone Star State.
Key Takeaways
- Texas had 4,350,000 beef cows on January 1, 2023, representing 14.5% of the U.S. total beef cow inventory.
- Texas beef cow inventory decreased by 2% from 2022 to 2023, totaling 4.35 million head.
- On January 1, 2023, Texas had 12,000,000 total cattle and calves, the highest in the nation at 13.8% of U.S. total.
- Texas produced 1,850,000 head slaughtered under federal inspection in 2022.
- Texas commercial beef production totaled 4.8 billion pounds in 2022.
- Texas ranked first in U.S. fed beef production with 2.1 billion pounds in 2022.
- Texas economic value from beef: $68 billion total impact including indirect.
- Texas beef industry supports 130,000 jobs with $6.5 billion in labor income.
- Texas beef contributes 4.5% to state GDP at $18.4 billion direct.
- Texas exported 285,000 metric tons of beef in 2022.
- Texas beef exports to Japan valued at $450 million in 2022.
- Texas portion of U.S. beef exports: 25% by volume in 2022.
- Texas beef industry employed 54,000 direct jobs in beef production 2022.
- Texas beef operations total 128,000 farms/ranches specializing in beef.
- Texas average beef ranch size: 650 acres in 2022.
Texas leads the nation in beef production despite recent small herd declines.
Beef Production and Slaughter
1Texas produced 1,850,000 head slaughtered under federal inspection in 2022.
Verified2Texas commercial beef production totaled 4.8 billion pounds in 2022.
Verified3Texas ranked first in U.S. fed beef production with 2.1 billion pounds in 2022.
Verified4Texas calf crop in 2022 was approximately 3.4 million head.
Directional5Texas beef carcass weight averaged 850 pounds in 2022 slaughter data.
Single source6Texas processed 1,200,000 head in state-inspected plants in 2021.
Verified7Texas beef production value reached $12.5 billion in 2022.
Verified8Texas led nation with 28% of U.S. steer and heifer slaughter in 2022.
Verified9Texas packing plants processed 5.2 billion pounds of beef in 2021.
Directional10Texas yearly beef output per cow averaged 650 pounds in 2022.
Single source11Texas slaughter under state inspection: 950,000 head in 2022.
Verified12Texas contributed 15% of U.S. total red meat production in 2022 at 5.1 billion lbs.
Verified13Texas fed cattle slaughter: 1,650,000 head in 2022.
Verified14Texas non-fed cattle slaughter totaled 200,000 head in 2022.
Directional15Texas beef yield grade 3+ averaged 75% in 2022 inspections.
Single source16Texas processed 4.9 million head total cattle in 2020.
Verified17Texas beef production increased 5% from 2021 to 2022.
Verified18Texas average hot carcass weight: 878 lbs in 2022.
Verified19Texas custom beef slaughter: 150,000 head annually average 2019-2022.
Directional20Texas contributed $11.8 billion in beef cash receipts in 2021.
Single source21Texas generated $15.2 billion in beef farm cash receipts in 2022.
Verified22Texas beef industry direct economic impact: $18.4 billion annually.
Verified23Texas beef production multiplier effect adds $25 billion to GDP.
Verified24Texas per capita beef production: 1,200 pounds in 2022.
Directional25Texas 2021 beef slaughter total: 4.7 billion pounds produced.
Single source26Texas fed beef production: 2.0 billion lbs in 2021.
VerifiedBeef Production and Slaughter Interpretation
It seems that while everything might be bigger in Texas, it is also decidedly beefier, with the state confidently carving out its place as the undisputed heavyweight champion of American beef production, proving that their steaks are indeed higher than anywhere else.
Cattle Numbers and Inventory
1Texas had 4,350,000 beef cows on January 1, 2023, representing 14.5% of the U.S. total beef cow inventory.
Verified2Texas beef cow inventory decreased by 2% from 2022 to 2023, totaling 4.35 million head.
Verified3On January 1, 2023, Texas had 12,000,000 total cattle and calves, the highest in the nation at 13.8% of U.S. total.
Verified4Texas all cattle and calves inventory fell 3% from January 1, 2022, to 12 million head in 2023.
Directional5Texas ranked first nationally with 4.25 million calves under 500 pounds on January 1, 2023.
Single source6Texas had 1,150,000 calves born between January 1 and July 1, 2022, down 1% from 2021.
Verified7Texas beef replacements heifers numbered 475,000 on January 1, 2023, comprising 14.9% of U.S. total.
Verified8Texas other heifers inventory stood at 1,850,000 head on January 1, 2023.
Verified9Texas steer numbers for beef totaled 3,200,000 on January 1, 2023.
Directional10Texas bull numbers were 275,000 on January 1, 2023.
Single source11In 2022, Texas had 128,000 beef operations, leading the nation.
Verified12Texas counties like Freestone led with over 100,000 beef cows in 2022 inventory reports.
Verified13Texas mature beef cows numbered 3,875,000 on January 1, 2022.
Verified14Texas total cattle inventory was 12.4 million head on January 1, 2022.
Directional15Texas beef heifers 500 pounds and over totaled 1,025,000 on January 1, 2023.
Single source16Texas calves 500-900 pounds numbered 1,450,000 on January 1, 2023.
Verified17Texas cattle 900+ pounds inventory was 4,100,000 on January 1, 2023.
Verified18Texas beef cow inventory in 2021 was 4.425 million head.
Verified19Texas ranked #1 in U.S. with 15% of national beef cows in 2021.
Directional20Texas total calves under 500 lbs: 4.3 million in 2021 Jan 1 count.
Single source21Texas operations with beef cows: 131,000 in 2017 Census.
Verified22Texas beef cow inventory peaked at 5.3 million in 2014.
Verified23Texas total cattle and calves: 12.3 million in 2021.
Verified24Texas beef replacement heifers: 500,000 in 2021.
Directional25Texas other beef heifers: 1.9 million in 2021 Jan 1.
Single source26Texas beef steers: 3.3 million on Jan 1, 2021.
Verified27Texas beef bulls: 280,000 in 2021 inventory.
Verified28Texas counties reported 11.8 million total cattle in 2022 estimates.
Verified29Texas beef cows in top 10 counties exceeded 1.5 million in 2022.
Directional30Texas 2020 beef cow inventory: 4.6 million head.
Single sourceCattle Numbers and Inventory Interpretation
While Texas remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of the U.S. cattle industry, its current reign shows a slight, deliberate trimming of the herd, focusing on quality over sheer quantity as it manages a complex empire of cattle.
Economic Impact and Value
1Texas economic value from beef: $68 billion total impact including indirect.
Verified2Texas beef industry supports 130,000 jobs with $6.5 billion in labor income.
Verified3Texas beef contributes 4.5% to state GDP at $18.4 billion direct.
Verified4Texas beef farm receipts: $13.7 billion in 2020, 22% of ag receipts.
Directional5Texas beef industry tax contributions: $2.1 billion annually.
Single source6Texas ranch real estate value tied to beef: $150 billion.
Verified7Texas beef export value: $2.3 billion in 2022.
Verified8Texas beef sector induced economic output: $28.6 billion.
Verified9Texas beef producers' average income: $45,000 per operation in 2022.
Directional10Texas beef industry household income impact: $10.2 billion.
Single source11Texas ag GDP from beef: 25% of total livestock sector at $20 billion.
Verified12Texas beef cash receipts grew 12% from 2021 to 2022.
Verified13Texas beef value added: $9.8 billion in processing.
Verified14Texas beef contributes $4.5 billion to rural economies.
Directional15Texas beef farm expenses: $10.1 billion in 2022.
Single source16Texas beef net farm income: $3.6 billion in 2022.
Verified17Texas beef industry supports 475,000 indirect jobs.
Verified18Texas beef export-related economic impact: $5.2 billion.
Verified19Texas beef sector property tax revenue: $1.2 billion.
Directional20Texas beef producers number 128,000 contributing $15B receipts.
Single source21Texas beef industry total output: $68 billion including multipliers.
VerifiedEconomic Impact and Value Interpretation
While it may be the unofficial state condiment, Texas beef's serious business—a $68 billion economic engine that not only feeds the nation but also props up entire communities and keeps the Lone Star State's financial boots firmly on the ground.
Employment, Ranches, and Operations
1Texas beef industry employed 54,000 direct jobs in beef production 2022.
Verified2Texas beef operations total 128,000 farms/ranches specializing in beef.
Verified3Texas average beef ranch size: 650 acres in 2022.
Verified4Texas beef feedlot capacity: 2.5 million head.
Directional5Texas ranch hands employed: 25,000 full-time in beef sector.
Single source6Texas beef processing plants employ 12,000 workers.
Verified7Texas Cow-Calf operations: 110,000 ranches.
Verified8Texas stocker/backgrounder operations: 15,000.
Verified9Texas feedlot operations: 2,500 custom and owned.
Directional10Texas beef sector total employment: 130,000 direct and indirect.
Single source11Texas average beef farm labor costs: $250,000 per operation 2022.
Verified12Texas beef industry veterinary services employ 1,200 professionals.
Verified13Texas ranchers average age: 58 years in 2022 census.
Verified14Texas beef transport and trucking jobs: 8,500.
Directional15Texas beef packing labor force: 20,000 in major plants.
Single source16Texas beef producer organizations membership: 45,000 members.
Verified17Texas beef ranches with irrigation: 12,000 operations.
Verified18Texas beef sector auction market employees: 2,100.
Verified19Texas beef extension service specialists: 150 agents.
Directional20Texas beef industry family farms: 95% of operations.
Single source21Texas large beef operations (>500 head): 1,200 ranches.
Verified22Texas beef hired labor: 40,000 seasonal workers.
VerifiedEmployment, Ranches, and Operations Interpretation
You’ve got a sprawling, seasoned army of 130,000 Texans—from the 58-year-old rancher surveying 650 acres to the auctioneer, the vet, the trucker, and the line worker—all united in the serious business of supplying your steak.
Exports and Markets
1Texas exported 285,000 metric tons of beef in 2022.
Verified2Texas beef exports to Japan valued at $450 million in 2022.
Verified3Texas portion of U.S. beef exports: 25% by volume in 2022.
Verified4Texas beef shipments to South Korea: 120,000 MT in 2022.
Directional5Texas exported beef worth $2.3 billion total in 2022.
Single source6Mexico received 35% of Texas beef exports in 2022, valued at $800M.
Verified7Texas beef to Canada: 50,000 MT annually average 2020-2022.
Verified8Texas share of U.S. beef export value to Asia: 22% in 2022.
Verified9Texas beef exports grew 8% YoY in 2022 to 300,000 MT.
Directional10Taiwan imported $150 million in Texas beef in 2022.
Single source11Texas beef to China/Hong Kong: 40,000 MT in 2022.
Verified12Philippines Texas beef imports: 25,000 MT valued $120M in 2022.
Verified13Texas beef export processing plants: 15 major facilities handling 200K MT.
Verified14EU countries imported 10,000 MT Texas beef under quota in 2022.
Directional15Texas beef to Middle East: 15,000 MT annually.
Single source16Texas top export product: chilled beef boneless 85% lean at 100K MT.
Verified17Texas beef export revenue per head: $1,200 average 2022.
Verified18Vietnam Texas beef imports doubled to 20,000 MT in 2022.
Verified19Texas beef to Australia/New Zealand markets: 5,000 MT.
Directional20Texas share of U.S. beef to Japan: 30% volume 2022.
Single sourceExports and Markets Interpretation
Texas isn't just exporting steaks; it's running a global beef syndicate, with a quarter of America's exports flowing from its ranches, making everything from Tokyo's finest restaurants to Mexico City's taco stands deeply indebted to the Lone Star State.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NASSnass.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 2AGECONagecon.tamu.eduVisit source
- Reference 3ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 4APHISaphis.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 5FSISfsis.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 6BEEFBOARDbeefboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 7AMSams.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 8AGRILIFETODAYagrilifetoday.tamu.eduVisit source
- Reference 9TEXASAGRICULTUREtexasagriculture.govVisit source
- Reference 10LANDland.comVisit source
- Reference 11COMPTROLLERcomptroller.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 12TEXASCATTLERAISERStexascattleraisers.orgVisit source
- Reference 13USMEFusmef.orgVisit source
- Reference 14FASfas.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 15MEATPOULTRYmeatpoultry.comVisit source
- Reference 16BQAbqa.orgVisit source
- Reference 17THECATTLESITEthecattlesite.comVisit source
- Reference 18TVMAtvma.orgVisit source
- Reference 19LMAlma.orgVisit source
- Reference 20AGRILIFEEXTENSIONagrilifeextension.tamu.eduVisit source