📈 February COF Placements  📈

• 2025: 1,554,000
• 2024: 1,890,000  (Record High)
• 2023: 1,723,000
• 2022: 1,868,000
• 2021: 1,693,000
• 2020: 1,716,000
• 2019: 1,858,000
• 2018: 1,817,000

February Cattle on Feed placements totaled 1.554 million head in 2025, marking a significant decline of 336,000 head from last year’s record-setting 1.890 million head. This year’s total is the lowest February placement figure since 2015, when 1.551 million head were placed. The dramatic year-over-year drop reflects tighter feeder supplies and potential weather or market headwinds discouraging early spring placements.

The 336,000-head decline is the largest February placement drop on record, surpassing notable declines seen in previous years. In 2013, placements dropped 258,000 head, while 2001 and 1998 saw declines of 300,000 and 301,000 head, respectively. With an average February placement of 1.69 million head since 1996, this year’s figure is well below trend, reinforcing broader signals of herd contraction and caution in the feeding sector heading into mid-year.

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