US farmers have reported an increase in the number of cattle, sheep and goats as of January 1, according to the Cattle inventory report and Sheep and Goats inventory report released today by the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service

Inventory of all cattle and calves in the United States totalled 97.1 million head, up 2% from 95.4 million a year ago. This increase represents the second straight year of herd expansion after nearly a decade of declining cattle inventories.

The all cows inventory reached the highest level since 2001, totalling 42.3 million head – 1% above last year's total of 41.9 million. Of the total cow inventory, beef cows accounted for 33.3 million and milk cows 9.06 million.

A similar increase was reported for the total sheep and lamb inventory. At 6.23 million head, the all sheep and lamb count was up 2% from 2005. The all goat inventory, reported to be 2.83 million head, rose 4% from 2.72 million in 2005. Inventory of meat goats and all other goats experienced the largest percentage of growth, increasing 5% from last year, to 2.26 million head.