The inventory of cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on May 1, 2025, a 2% decrease from May 1, 2024. The figures were released May 23 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in its monthly "Cattle on Feed" report.
Key data points for April 2025 from the report include:
- Placements in feedlots totaled 1.61 million head, 3% below April 2024. Net placements were 1.56 million head.
- Marketings of fed cattle totaled 1.83 million head, down 3% from the previous year.
- Other disappearance during April was 50,000 head, an 11% decrease from April 2024.
During April, placements of cattle and calves by weight group were:
- Less than 600 pounds: 310,000 head
- 600-699 pounds: 225,000 head
- 700-799 pounds: 370,000 head
- 800-899 pounds: 443,000 head
- 900-999 pounds: 195,000 head
- 1,000 pounds and greater: 70,000 head
The total inventory on feed April 1, 2025, was 11.638 million head, also down 2% from April 1, 2024.
NASS also announced a significant change in its reporting. Beginning May 30, 2025, the agency will no longer generate "Cattle on Feed" publications tailored specifically to individual states or regions. NASS stated this change will not impact the availability of state-level data, which will continue to be accessible in national releases and through NASS's public online database, Quick Stats.
