The number of cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in U.S. feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on June 1, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest Cattle on Feed report.
The June 1 inventory was 1 percent below the same time last year, continuing a trend of year-over-year declines in feedlot numbers.
Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.89 million head, 8 percent lower than in May 2024. Net placements were 1.82 million head. The placement decline suggests producers are showing caution in feedlot decisions.
Cattle marketed from feedlots during May totaled 1.76 million head, 10 percent below last year's level, indicating a slower pace of cattle moving to slaughter facilities.
Other disappearance, which includes death loss, totaled 62,000 head during May, unchanged from the same month a year ago.
Among major cattle feeding states, inventory levels varied significantly. Texas, the nation's largest cattle feeding state, reported 2.63 million head on feed, down 7 percent from last year. Nebraska, the second-largest feeding state, had 2.56 million head, up 3 percent from 2024. Kansas inventory stood at 2.35 million head, a 1 percent increase from the previous year.
By weight groups, May placements included 335,000 head weighing less than 600 pounds, 275,000 head at 600-699 pounds, 450,000 head at 700-799 pounds, 516,000 head at 800-899 pounds, and 310,000 head weighing 900 pounds or more.
