The U.S. cattle on feed inventory for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head stood at 11.7 million head on December 1, 2025, down 2% from the previous year, according to the latest Cattle on Feed report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Placements during November totaled 1.60 million head, an 11% decrease from November 2024 and the lowest November figure since the series began in 1996. Net placements, which exclude cattle removed for marketings and other disappearance, were 1.54 million head. The decline was seen across all weight categories, with cattle weighing less than 600 pounds accounting for 435,000 head, and those 1,000 pounds and greater totaling 80,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle in November reached 1.52 million head, down 12% from the previous year and the second lowest November total on record. Other disappearance, which includes death loss and movement to pasture or other feedlots, totaled 53,000 head, 4% below 2024 levels.
Regionally, states like Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas maintained the largest inventories, though most showed slight declines compared to the prior year. Placements also fell in key states, reflecting broader industry trends.
