Cattle On Feed

United States Cattle on Feed Down 2 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on April 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below April 1, 2024. The inventory included 7.26 million steers and steer calves, down slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.38 million head, down 4 percent from 2024.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.84 million head, 5 percent above 2024. Net placements were 1.79 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 285,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 475,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 506,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 175,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 65,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.73 million head, 1 percent above 2024.

Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during March, 4 percent below 2024.