The latest United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service's Cattle on Feed report, released on October 25, indicates that cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market totaled 11.6 million head as of October 1, 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year. This figure includes cattle in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head.
Of the total inventory, 7 million were steers and steer calves, up 1% from October 2023, comprising 60% of the overall count. Meanwhile, heifers and heifer calves totaled 4.6 million head, down 1% from last year.
Placements into feedlots during September reached 2.16 million head, marking a 2% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. These placements varied by weight class, with 526,000 head in the 800-899 pounds category leading in volume. Marketings of fed cattle rose by 2% over last year, totaling 1.7 million head. Meanwhile, "other disappearance," which includes losses due to death, pasture movement, or shipment to other feedlots, was 56,000 head, down 2% from 2023.
The report sheds light on the current state of U.S. cattle feedlots as producers navigate market conditions and cattle supply dynamics.
