The Top 6 States That Produce the Most Beef and Cattle

6. Kansas – 1.3 million

Ranchers in Kansas raise 1.32 million head of beef cattle that graze on over 15 million acres of pastures. Beef production is the largest agricultural sector in Kansas, employing over 34,000 people and resulting in over $6 billion of economic output. In addition, Kansas is a leading state for cattle processing, ranking second in the nation in 2021.

5. South Dakota – 1.6 million

While South Dakota’s dairy farms and crop growers are only found in specific regions, beef cattle are raised on farms throughout the state. There are approximately 1.61 million head of beef cattle in South Dakota, representing 5.3% of the country’s beef cow inventory.

South Dakota’s economy is largely driven by agriculture, with beef production adding more than $1 billion to the state’s economy each year. In addition to beef production, poultry farms and hog units play an important role in the state’s agriculture sector.

4. Nebraska – 1.7 million

With 1.7 million head of beef cattle, Nebraska is easily among the states that produce the most beef. In addition to the cows that are raised in Nebraska, the state sees an influx of around five million beef cattle each year to be finished and packaged for sale.

Among U.S. beef-producing counties, the top three are located in Nebraska. Cherry County, located in northern Nebraska, is home to 166,000 beef cows, more than any other county in the nation. Farms and ranches cover 91% of Nebraska’s land area. The state is also notable for its corn production, 40% of which goes to feed the state’s livestock.

3. Missouri – 1.9 million

The country’s third-largest beef-producing state is Missouri, which has around 1.9 million head of beef cattle. The cattle industry provides over 40,000 jobs in the state and adds more than $1.6 billion to the state’s economy. 

Thanks to its rich soil, expansive pastures, and ideal climate, ranchers in Missouri grow several prime breeds of cattle, including Hereford, Shorthorn, and Charolais. With the addition of a specialized export facility in St. Louis, farmers in the state have been able to export cattle as well as certified embryos.

2. Oklahoma – 1.9 million

With more cattle than people, Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for states that produce the most beef cattle. There are around two million beef cattle across the state, raised on farms that are overwhelmingly owned by families and individuals.

Oklahoma’s modern cattle industry can trace its roots to the early 1800s, when members of the Five Tribes – the Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole – were forcibly relocated from the southeastern states to the area around Oklahoma. The Five Tribes brought herds of livestock with them, which thrived on the open, grassy plains. 

Since the 1900s, ranchers have focused on improving cattle breeds for health and sustainability. In 1949, the United States Department of Agriculture recognized a new breed of cow that originated in Oklahoma. A farmer developed the Brangus breed, which is a cross between an Angus cow and a Brahman cow.

1. Texas – 12 million

In the U.S., Texas is the leading producer of beef with nearly 12 million head of cattle, including four million beef cattle. In Texas, cattle represent over half of the state’s agricultural commodities with a value that exceeds $12 billion. 

Cattle driving was brought to the area nearly 300 years ago by Spanish colonists, and their influence is evident in many of the tools and phrases used in the cattle industry today. The state’s cattle industry saw tremendous growth following the Civil War, during a period called the “Texas cattle drive era.” From 1865-1868, around 10 million Texas Longhorn cows were slaughtered to be sold in markets along the East Coast.

Today, cattle ranching remains an important part of the economy and culture in Texas. At the Forth Worth Stockyards, cowhands put on a daily reenactment of a historical cattle drive with a herd of Texas Longhorns, and across the state, football fans cheer on the Longhorns at the University of Texas in Austin.