86416 Livestock Data in the export presence, with meat exports in 2011 estimated at 7 million tons, estimated to United States: How is it account for approximately 25 percent of global trade. collected? Supporting the success of the industry, in additional to a resource base which supports a Livestock data collection is notoriously competitive sector, are synergies between complicated. As far back as 1957, Ray Hurley – private sector and Government in the area of former Chief of the Agriculture Division of the livestock data collection, analysis and US Bureau of the Census – noted: ‘in analyzing dissemination. the [US] census experience covering 16 nationwide censuses and almost 120 years, one concludes that the nationwide collection of Value of US Livestock Production satisfactory livestock data ... is a difficult task (Billion US$) and involves a number of problems. Even the Sub-sector 2007 2011 job of obtaining a count of livestock is fraught with difficulties. Livestock numbers change Meat animals 65.1 84.9 every day of the year. Marketing is a continuous Dairy products 35.5 39.4 process. Livestock inventories are affected by births, deaths, farm slaughter, and by growth Poultry/eggs 33.1 36.2 and change in age of animals’ (Hurley, 1957). Misc. Livestock 4.9 4.8 Yet 60 years later, livestock survey data is Home 0.3 .4 regularly and extensively used in the United consumption States by various stakeholders to formulate Total1 138.4 164.1 agricultural policies, monitor programs, 1 includes inventory adjustment observe, develop new programs and services, Source: NASS and Economic Research Service, and evaluate industry performance. Farm survey USDA data is integrated with trade statistics, industry-based slaughter statistics and other related data, to provide an up-to date picture The Role of the US Department of of the industry. Agriculture in Collecting, The Livestock Industry in the Analysing and Disseminating United States Livestock Data Producing approximately 42 million tons of The US Department of Agriculture National meat/year, in 2011 the United States accounts Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), supported for an estimated 14 percent of global meat by an annual budget of about US$159 million, is Livestock Data Innovation in Africa BRIEF supplies and ranks only behind China and the the entity which conducts hundreds of surveys EU-27 as one of the world’s largest meat every year and prepares reports covering many producers. The value of the livestock sector is aspects of the U.S. agriculture. To ensure estimated at almost US$120 billion, adequate coverage of the livestock sector, NASS approximately 40 percent of the total estimated regularly undertakes approximately 12 value of agricultural sector production in 2011 livestock, 13 poultry and 4 dairy surveys, the of 410.2 billion. It also maintains a strong Numbers for Livelihood Enhancement www.africalivestockdata.org Selected US Livestock Reports / Statistics Frequency Reports Data / Indicator per year No. of cattle/milk cows/bulls; no. of heifers held for breeding; no. Cattle Inventories 2 of cattle/calves raised for meat production; no.of calves born Monthly cattle/calves on feed, placement, marketing and other Cattle on Feed disappearance (deaths, return to grazing, movement to other 12 feedlots) No. of animals slaughtered (by species and class) in federally Livestock inspected plants, post-mortem condemnation, daily live and dressed 12 Slaughter weights. Poultry Slaughter No. of poultry slaughtered under federal inspection 12 Hog and Pigs Inventory, breeding herd, market hogs, sow farrowing, pig crops, 3 Inventories pigs per litter; Pigs per litter by size of operation Milk Production Milk cow inventory, milk production, milk production/cow 12 Stocks, shipments, prices received, production for products such as Dairy Products 12 butter, cheese, dry whey, ice cream and non-fat dry milk Dairy Product Prices of dairy products: cheddar cheese in 40 pound blocks and 500 52 Pricing pound barrels, butter, nonfat dry milk and dry whey. Sales volume No. of broiler hatcheries, chicks hatched, chicks placed, chicken & Broiler Hatchery 52 cgg inventory, layers Size of laying flock, number of pullets, production and value, Turkey Hatchery eggs/100 layers 12 Total egg production, forced molting, chicks hatched, eggs in Chicken and Egg incubators, replacement breeder, supply flocks. Turkeys, pullets 12 placed, no. raised, production & value frequency of which varies depending on the solicit comments and suggestions on the product. While more than 1,000 staff, in statistical and economic reports issued by the Washington DC and in the individual 50 States Department of Agriculture and the Census collect data through surveys, censuses, targeted Bureau. questionnaires, and special surveys, NASS, in its efforts to provide timely, accurate, approximately 18 professionals coordinate the and useful statistics in service to U.S. analysis of the livestock data, releasing agriculture is committed to: (i) report the facts monthly, weekly and annual publications. on American agriculture; (ii) provide objective The most comprehensive statistical reports are and unbiased statistics that is fair and impartial released annually for all agricultural sectors, to all market participants; (iii) serve the needs including a report on ‘cattle, hogs, and sheep’ of data users and customers at a local level and one on ‘dairy and poultry statistics’. A list through networks of State field offices and a of selected reports on livestock data / statistics cooperative relationship with universities and produced by NASS is presented in the table State Departments of Agriculture; (iv) guarantee above. National and State level data are that confidentiality and data security are top available in an on-line database, accessible at: priorities. www.nass.usda.gov under the heading ‘Data and Statistics’. For further information please visit: Conclusions www.africalivestockdata.org www.nass.usda.gov The collection and analysis of timely and accurate livestock data facilitates the ability of Or contact: Livestock Data Innovation in Africa BRIEF planners to support sector development and Nancy Morgan, World Bank/FAO optimizes investment decisions while minimizing nmorgan@worldbank.org uncertainties and risks associated with the Scott Hollis, Head of the Livestock Section, NASS production, marketing and distribution of shollis@nass.usda.gov livestock and products. The quality and the usefulness of the data is reviewed in annual USDA data users meeting to Numbers for Livelihood Enhancement www.africalivestockdata.org