Washington State Beef Industry Statistics

(Updated 6/1/2009)

• The beef industry in Washington contributes significantly to the state’s economy.   The value of receipts from the sale of cattle in 2008 was approximately $605,380,000.  The value of production (total value of cattle on farms and ranches in 2008) was $496,127,000.  These numbers do not reflect the multiplier effect that businesses supporting the beef industry contribute to the state’s economy.
• Nationwide there are 956,500 ranchers and cattlemen conducting business in all 50 states and contributing economically to nearly every county in the nation. From estimates in 2008*, in the state of Washington there are approximately 11,700 ranchers and cattlemen and 760 dairy farmers located in almost every county in the state. (Approximately 5,000 Washington beef producers have fewer than 9 head of cattle.)
• On Jan. 1, 2009 there were 94.5 million cattle in the United States and 1.08 million located in Washington -- of which 244,000 were dairy cows.
• Total cattle production in Washington during 2008 was 1,326,102,000 pounds (1,032,100 head of cattle harvested). Total cattle production in the United States during 2008 was 43.9 billion pounds (34.4 million head of cattle harvested).
• Total beef production in Washington during 2008 was approximately 802,970,000 pounds (number of cattle harvested multiplied by average carcass weight). Total beef production in the United States during 2008 was 26.7 billion pounds (in 2008, cattle averaged about 1,282 lbs. before harvest and the 2008 average carcass weight was 778 lbs., which translates into about 529 lbs. of beef).

Source:  USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. For more information visit their web site locally at http://www.nass.usda.gov/wa.

 *Washington level data has been discontinued.