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Livestock Inventory
Los Angeles County

2002-2017

Dairy Cows

Photo from Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weighs & Measures.


The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of farms and ranches in the United States and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the year the census is taken. The Census of Agriculture is taken only once every five years.


Data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture is expected to be released in Feb. 2024.

Cattle & Calves

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Cattle, Including Calves 73 6,889 104 6,315 172 8,687 136 5,063
Cows 64 * 66 4,063 102 5,449 97 *
Beef Cows 63 * 61 * 89 992 75 *
Milk Cows 1 * 9 * 13 4,457 22 *
Cattle, Excluding Cows 41 * 78 2,252 132 3,238 107 2,092

* Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms


The last cattle brand registered in Los Angeles County is reported to have been filed in 1935.

Hogs & Pigs

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Hogs & Pigs 26 145 36 239 67 453 67 550

Sheep & Lambs

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Sheep, Including Lambs 70 857 87 999 97 2,853 93 2,969

Goats

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
All Goats 78 1,040 109 1,277 196 2,306 131 1,953
Milk Goats 30 253 36 285 62 1,025 74 766
Angora Goats 10 29 12 41 5 13 17 64
Meat Goats & Other 50 758 86 951 151 1,268 96 1,123

Equine

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Horses & Ponies 380 5,112 435 6,018 923 11,213 669 6,142
Mules, Burros & Donkeys 89 208 88 344 102 215 24 37

Poultry

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Chickens, Layers 132 3,005 163 3,579 192 * 143 8,458
Chickens, Pullets, Replacement 9 68 34 2,423 30 2,420 21 2,208
Chickens, Broilers 16 250 29 456 1 * 20 154
Chickens, Roosters 36 169 19 368 75 * 84 *
Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Turkeys 13 49 20 203 21 352 13 92
Ducks 14 155 24 259 34 220 55 457
Emus 11 38 9 52 15 80 16 36
Geese 12 89 14 103 46 764 34 293
Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Ostriches NA N/A N/A N/A 2 * 7 17
Guineas 2 * 0 0 0 0 0 0
Peafowl, Hens & Cocks 13 59 9 128 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Pheasants 3 18 6 44 8 28 15 *
Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Pigeons & Squab 13 4,150 14 1,651 30 2,340 26 1,425
Quail 6 10 6 120 1 * 9 *

* Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms
N/A No data provided.

Honey

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Honey, Bee Colonies 62 4,384 50 9,441 33 5,043 31 4,998

Special & Other

Stock 2017 2012 2007 2002
Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory Farms Inventory
Alpacas 13 258 26 417 26 440 N/A N/A
Llamas 15 119 29 78 58 239 55 555
Rabbits, Live 7 97 15 134 41 198 32 590

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture - Census of Agriculture


In 1850, the U.S. Census conducted its first count in the newly established Los Angeles County. Recorded were 5,487 horses (1.6 horses for every resident, being as important to Angelenos then as cars are today), 351 "asses" and mules, 338 milk cows, 1,185 working oxen, 6,541 sheep, 172 swine and 88,454 cattle. Cattle, outnumbering people 25 to one, was then the county's most dominant industry.