The United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released its latest Cattle on Feed report, revealing a slight downturn in inventory for February 2025. According to the data published on February 21, 2025, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million, marking a 1 percent decrease from February 1, 2024.
Key findings from the report include:
- Placements in feedlots during January reached 1.82 million head, up 2 percent from 2024
- Marketings of fed cattle in January totaled 1.87 million head, a 1 percent increase from the previous year
- Other disappearance in January was 60,000 head, down 26 percent from 2024
The report also highlighted that feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 82.7 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States as of January 1, 2025, consistent with the previous year's figure.
This data provides valuable insights for stakeholders across the agricultural supply chain, from grain producers to livestock operators, helping inform decision-making in the face of evolving market conditions.
