Statistics
In 2015, the total U.S. inventory of adult cattle over 500 pounds was 78 million head, and total calf crop was 34 million head. In 2015, almost 3.9 million cattle and calves were lost to all causes, both predator and nonpredator, resulting in an estimated cost loss of $3.87 billion. According to the report, losses on beef operations accounted for 58 percent of the total value of losses.
The report states the percentage of death loss due to all causes has remained fairly consistent since 2000, with cattle death loss hovering around 2 percent and calf death loss swinging from 6 to 7 percent. In contrast, the percentage of calf deaths attributed to predators increased steadily from 3.5 percent in 1995 to 11.1 percent in 2015.
Nonpredator death loss
In 2015, nonpredator causes accounted for almost 98 percent of all deaths in adult cattle and almost 89 percent of all deaths in calves. Respiratory problems accounted for the highest percentage of nonpredator deaths in cattle at 24 percent, followed by unknown causes at 14 percent and old age at 12 percent.
Respiratory problems also accounted for the highest percentage of deaths in calves due to nonpredators at 27 percent, followed by calving-related problems at 18 percent and digestive problems at 15 percent.
Predator death loss
In 2015, coyotes accounted for the highest percentage of adult cattle deaths due to predators at 41 percent, followed by unknown predators at 16 percent and dogs at 11 percent. They also accounted for the highest percentage of calf deaths due to predators at 53 percent, followed by unknown predator causes at 12 percent and vultures 10 percent.
According to the report, on beef operations, calf deaths attributed to predators accounted for nearly 16 percent of all calf deaths and nearly triple the proportion of predator-related deaths in the next highest category, mixed operations. 
The original death loss report can be found on the APHIS website.
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Carrie Veselka
- Associate Editor
- Progressive Dairyman
- Email Carrie Veselka
