Cattle On Feed

Cattle On Feed (2023 vs. 2024)

United States Cattle on Feed Up 1%

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head on April 1, 2024. The inventory was 1 percent above April 1, 2023. The inventory included 7.27 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.56 million head, up 1 percent from 2023.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.75 million head, 12 percent below 2023. Net placements were 1.69 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 330,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 260,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 460,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 466,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 170,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.71 million head, 14 percent below 2023.

Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during March, 8 percent above 2023.

Cattle On Feed Inventory