U.S. Senator from Kansas, Dr., Roger Marshall, has joined with Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), introducing a resolution designating May 2026 as National Beef Month, and highlighting the work American cattlemen do to feed the country.
Kansas ranks third nationally with 5.95 million cattle on ranches and in feedyards across the state, generating $11.7 billion and employing more than 38,000 Kansans.
The United States has 86.6 million head of cattle, with the top 13 states accounting for two-thirds of the total herd. Texas leads with 12.2 million head, followed by Nebraska (6.05 million), then Kansas; the cattle in Kansas account for about 7% of the nation's total.
Neighboring states Oklahoma, Missouri, and Colorado are also in the Top 10 as well. Oklahoma features large grazing pastures and strong feeder-cattle production. Missouri has a mix of cow-calf operations, dairy, and feedlot production; Colorado is home to significant feedlot operations.
Brazil (230 million) and India (190 million) are the top two nations with the most cattle, followed by the United States, China, and Pakistan rounding out the top 5.
