by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida
When it comes to Florida agriculture, a lot of the conversation is focused on fruits and vegetables. But that leaves out a big part of the picture: Florida’s livestock!
In fact, Florida has a vibrant animal agriculture industry, especially when it comes to cattle.
Cattle
Cattle have long been a part of Florida culture. They were first brought to Spanish Florida in 1521, and the state even has its own breed of cattle, the Florida Cracker.
Today, Florida remains a major cattle-producing state, ranking ninth in the nation for beef cows as of 2024, with an inventory of 862,000, or about 3% of the US total. The state ranks 13th for cow inventory overall, with 960,000 head, or about 2.6% of the national total. As of 2023, there were a total of $506.168 million in cash receipts for milk, plus $774.943 million in cash receipts for cattle and calves.
Nearly half of Florida agricultural land is devoted to cattle production. Florida cattle production is primarily focused in Okeechobee, Polk, and Osceola counties. There are also significant cattle operations in Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Levy, and Alachua counties.
Florida is primarily a cow-calf state. This means that it primarily produces young calves, which are then sold to stockers and backgrounder operations.
Poultry and Eggs
While the poultry industry isn’t quite as big as cattle, it’s still significant, with Florida falling in the top 20 states for poultry production.
Chickens in Florida are raised for both meat and eggs, with 78.5 million broilers (chickens raised for meat) and 11.3 million layers (chickens raised for eggs). Poultry meat represents a total export value of $450.3 million; recent data for egg production isn’t available, but as of 2018, cash receipts for Florida eggs were $155 million.
Hogs, Goats, and Sheep
When it comes to other animals, Florida isn’t a major player. But it does have a small industry for hogs, goats, and sheep.
Florida has about 53,000 head of goats, or about 2% of the total goat population in the nation. The industry has seen steady growth in recent years fueled by growing demand for goat meat in the state.
When it comes to sheep, Florida doesn’t have a particularly large industry, mostly because the hot, humid climate isn’t ideal for raising them. But the state does lay claim to one of the oldest sheep breeds, the Florida Cracker sheep, which like the Florida Cracker cattle, were brought here in the 1500s by the Spanish. Today, a number of small sheep farms operate in the state, though exact statistics aren’t available.
In addition, Florida has a modest hog industry. The most recent numbers available are from 2017, with about $2 million in cash receipts. A number of hog operations exist throughout the state, particularly in South Central Florida.
Far-Reaching Implications
Livestock production in Florida also plays a critical role beyond the farm gate. It supports rural economies, helps preserve open land in the face of rapid development, and contributes to a stable food supply both within the state and beyond. From large cattle operations in South Central Florida to smaller specialty farms raising goats and sheep, these operations create jobs, sustain local communities, and ensure that agriculture remains a viable part of Florida’s future.
Far from new additions to the state, animal agriculture is a part of Florida’s DNA, as evidenced by unique breeds like Florida Cracker cattle and sheep that have been here since the 1500s. And animal agriculture will remain a part of its DNA well into the future.