Mexico’s cattle inventory falls to 24 million head as feed costs and drought strain farms
Mexico’s cattle inventory declined to 24,027,332 head from 24,553,565 in the previous census. Higher feed costs, recurring drought and water stress are pressuring livestock farms, while the commercial poultry flock expanded.
National cattle herd contracts
Mexico’s National Agricultural Survey counted 24,027,332 cattle, down from 24,553,565 in the previous census, Dairynews.today reported. The reduction amounted to 526,233 head and indicates growing pressure across a livestock industry exposed to high feed costs, recurring drought and water stress.
The survey identified 9,707,538 breeding cows, 4,113,070 animals intended for feedlot finishing and 713,337 registered bulls. Eight states—Veracruz, Jalisco, Durango, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Michoacán, Oaxaca and Tabasco—held 13.4 million head, equivalent to 55.6% of the national inventory. Their combined share increased from 54.0% in earlier measurements, showing a greater concentration of cattle in the country’s main producing regions.
Milk production reaches commercial processors
At the end of the third quarter, Mexico had 2,349,239 cows actively in milk. They produced an average of 32.9 million liters of raw milk per day. Of that volume, 31.9 million liters entered commercial markets and processing chains, while farms retained 994,000 liters for on-site consumption. The average price paid at the cooling tank was 10.66 pesos per liter.
Production systems vary substantially by region. Tropical areas rely mainly on dual-purpose cattle, combining milk and beef output. Northern Mexico and the central highlands have more intensive dairy operations equipped with rapid-cooling tanks. Milk collection requires an uninterrupted cold chain at 4°C to meet the hygiene and food-quality standards set by receiving plants. This infrastructure requirement can add to the pressure on farms already facing elevated input costs.
Feed accounts for most operating expenditure
Dairynews.today attributed the strain on cattle operations to higher prices for feed, energy grains and protein supplements, alongside recurring drought and water stress. More than 70% of operating expenditure per liter of milk was associated with feed, according to the report. That cost structure leaves dairy producers highly exposed to grain and protein-feed prices and limits their ability to absorb disruptions in pasture or water availability.
The contraction was not confined to cattle. Mexico’s pig inventory fell from 16,021,318 to 15,396,619 head, a reduction of 624,699. The goat population stood at 2,461,276 animals. Of these, 158,387 were being milked and produced 170,372 liters per day, most of which was supplied to specialized artisan cheesemakers. More than 39,000 beekeeping units also reported hive losses linked to pests and diseases.
Poultry expands as other livestock numbers decline
Commercial poultry moved in the opposite direction. The national flock increased from 522.4 million to 611.3 million birds. Mexico had 155.9 million laying hens producing 6,678 tonnes of table eggs per day. The expansion contrasts with declining cattle and pig numbers and may reflect the different production cycles and cost structures of poultry operations.
For beef and dairy markets, a smaller cattle base does not by itself establish the scale of any future supply deficit, but it narrows the pool of breeding, finishing and milk-producing animals. The effects will depend on productivity, slaughter rates and producers’ ability to manage feed and water costs. The concentration of 55.6% of cattle in eight states also means that weather and input conditions in those regions will have an outsized influence on national availability and prices.
