Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released November 21, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 2 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on November 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below November 1, 2024. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.04 million head, 10 percent below 2024. Net placements were 1.99 million head. Placements were the lowest for October since the series began in 1996. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 515,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 445,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 384,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 195,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.70 million head, 8 percent below 2024. Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during October, 2 percent below 2024. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2024 and 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2024 : 2025 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,600 11,418 98 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,266 2,039 90 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,845 1,697 92 Other disappearance during October .....: 55 54 98 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,966 11,706 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2024 and 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2024 : 2025 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,198 11,080 99 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,156 2,021 94 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,698 1,632 96 Other disappearance during September ...: 56 51 91 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,600 11,418 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2024 and 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2024 : 2025 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed October 1 ................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,000 7,063 101 62 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,600 4,355 95 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : November 1, 2025 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :November 1, 2024 : October 1, 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 231 213 211 91 99 California .......: 515 480 485 94 101 Colorado .........: 1,060 920 920 87 100 Idaho ............: 330 345 345 105 100 Iowa .............: 670 690 700 104 101 Kansas ...........: 2,410 2,410 2,460 102 102 Minnesota ........: 105 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 2,580 2,560 2,640 102 103 Oklahoma .........: 365 320 335 92 105 South Dakota .....: 225 200 235 104 118 Texas ............: 2,880 2,570 2,630 91 102 Washington .......: 270 280 295 109 105 : Other States .....: 325 430 450 138 105 : United States ....: 11,966 11,418 11,706 98 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2024 :September 2025: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 21 13 16 76 123 California .......: 57 66 62 109 94 Colorado .........: 210 155 135 64 87 Idaho ............: 50 62 53 106 85 Iowa .............: 95 76 96 101 126 Kansas ...........: 480 465 455 95 98 Minnesota ........: 22 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 615 585 560 91 96 Oklahoma .........: 66 46 62 94 135 South Dakota .....: 70 40 68 97 170 Texas ............: 470 390 410 87 105 Washington .......: 50 49 49 98 100 : Other States .....: 60 74 73 122 99 : United States ....: 2,266 2,021 2,039 90 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs 1/ : 900-999 lbs : 1,000+ lbs : Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head : Colorado ......: 40 40 45 50 35 (D) (D) 210 Kansas ........: 75 105 140 105 55 (D) (D) 480 Nebraska ......: 130 115 105 135 130 (D) (D) 615 Texas .........: 170 115 115 55 15 (D) (D) 470 : Other States ..: 165 105 80 86 55 (D) (D) 491 : United States .: 580 480 485 431 (X) 210 80 2,266 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2025 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs 1/ : 900-999 lbs : 1,000+ lbs : Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head : Colorado ......: 25 20 30 45 35 (D) (D) 155 Kansas ........: 60 85 140 115 65 (D) (D) 465 Nebraska ......: 60 60 100 175 190 (D) (D) 585 Texas .........: 145 100 90 45 10 (D) (D) 390 : Other States ..: 115 45 75 106 85 (D) (D) 426 : United States .: 405 310 435 486 (X) 285 100 2,021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2025 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs 1/ : 900-999 lbs : 1,000+ lbs : Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head : Colorado ......: 30 25 25 30 25 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 70 95 140 95 55 (D) (D) 455 Nebraska ......: 115 105 95 120 125 (D) (D) 560 Texas .........: 140 95 105 55 15 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 160 100 80 84 55 (D) (D) 479 : United States .: 515 420 445 384 (X) 195 80 2,039 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1/ The 900 pounds and greater weight group is the sum of 900-999 pounds and 1,000 pounds and greater weight groups. Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2024 :September 2025: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 19 19 17 89 89 California .......: 51 55 51 100 93 Colorado .........: 145 120 130 90 108 Idaho ............: 48 46 52 108 113 Iowa .............: 84 74 85 101 115 Kansas ...........: 430 395 395 92 100 Minnesota ........: 16 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 495 445 470 95 106 Oklahoma .........: 45 40 46 102 115 South Dakota .....: 39 34 32 82 94 Texas ............: 395 310 335 85 108 Washington .......: 34 33 33 97 100 : Other States .....: 44 61 51 116 84 : United States ....: 1,845 1,632 1,697 92 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2024 :September 2025: Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 6 6 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100 Iowa .............: 1 2 1 100 50 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 15 10 15 100 150 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 3 2 200 67 : United States ....: 55 51 54 98 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : 2024 : 2025 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 220 219 198 10 10 15 California .........: 420 400 390 95 85 90 Colorado ...........: 525 460 485 475 440 435 Idaho ..............: 175 180 195 155 150 150 Iowa ...............: 510 550 550 150 140 140 Kansas .............: 1,340 1,320 1,460 1,030 950 950 Minnesota ..........: 85 (NA) (NA) 15 (NA) (NA) Nebraska ...........: 1,530 1,600 1,650 940 840 910 Oklahoma ...........: 190 180 180 155 140 140 South Dakota .......: 110 125 115 85 80 85 Texas ..............: 1,560 1,405 1,400 1,260 1,165 1,170 Washington .........: 135 140 145 120 115 135 : Other States .......: 200 305 295 110 125 135 : United States ......: 7,000 6,884 7,063 4,600 4,240 4,355 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates Cattle on feed are steers and heifers being fed a ration of grain, silage, hay and/or protein supplement for slaughter market that are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. It excludes cattle being "backgrounded only" for later sale as feeders or later placement in another feedlot. Placements are steers and heifers put into a feedlot, fed a ration which will produce a carcass that will grade select or better, and are intended for the slaughter market. Marketings are steers and heifers shipped out of feedlots to a slaughter market. Other disappearance includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: During January and July all known feedlots in the United States with capacity of 1,000 or more head are surveyed to provide data for cattle on feed estimates. During the other months, all known feedlots from 16 States are surveyed. The 16 States account for approximately 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. Individual State estimates are published monthly for 11 of the 16 States. In 2025, data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Wyoming and in 2025, Minnesota was added. The "Other States" category represents all cattle on feed with a capacity of 1,000 or more head for the rest of the United States. Estimating Procedures: These cattle on feed estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations and analysis submitted by Regional Field Offices. Regional and State survey data were reviewed for reasonableness with each other and with estimates from the previous month when establishing the current estimates. Revision Policy: Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve month- to-month relationships. Estimates for the previous month are subject to revision in all States each month when current estimates are made. In February, all monthly estimates for the previous year, and the number of feedlots and annual marketings from two years ago are reviewed and subject to revisions. The reviews are primarily based on slaughter data, state check-off or brand data, and any other data that may have been received after the original estimate was made. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date and estimates become final. Reliability: Since all 1,000+ capacity cattle on feed operators in every State are not included in the monthly survey, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. To assist users in evaluating the reliability of estimates in this report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table on the following page. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and latest estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for cattle on feed inventory estimates over the past 24 months is 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.7 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. The table on the following page shows a 24-month record of the range of differences between first and latest estimates for selected items. Using estimates of number on feed as an example, changes between the first estimate and the latest estimate during the past 24 months have averaged 3,000 head, ranging from 0 to 25,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 4 times. This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory. Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates [Based on data for the past 24 months] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Months : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent ------- 1,000 ------- ----- number ---- : On feed ......................: 0.1 0.1 3 0 25 4 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 20 5 4 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.1 0 0 5 4 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch................................................ (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter............................................. (202) 690-8632 Tiffany Byrne - Dairy Products...................................................... (651) 440-7789 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed................................................. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production......................................................... (202) 720-3278 Fatema Haque - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink, Trout........... (202) 690-3237 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs...................................................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats.. (202) 720-4448 Shulonda Shaw - Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage................... (202) 720-3240 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs......................................................... (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery................................. (202) 720-6147 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. The national specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Economics, Statistics, and Market Information (ESMIS) - National Agricultural Library (NAL) website houses NASS's and other agency archived reports at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. 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