The number of beef cows in each of the four major U.S. cow-calf production regions declined by about one-fifth between 1975 and 1980 in response to sharp reductions in feeder cattle prices and increases in production costs during the midseventies. Several physical measures of performance indicate that most resources were used more efficiently in beef cow-calf production in 1980 than in 1975. This report identifies the structural characteristics and operating practices for beef cow-calf production operations in the United States.