Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 17, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 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 11.6 million head on April 1, 2026. The inventory was 1 percent below April 1, 2025. The inventory included 7.26 million steers and steer calves, down slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.32 million head, down 1 percent from 2025. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.71 million head, 7 percent below 2025. Net placements were 1.66 million head. Placements were the second lowest for March since the series began in 1996. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 250,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 435,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 474,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 170,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million head, 6 percent below 2025. Marketings were the second lowest for March since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during March, 9 percent below 2025. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2025 and 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2025 : 2026 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 11,577 11,549 100 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,843 1,709 93 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,727 1,632 94 Other disappearance during March .......: 55 50 91 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,638 11,576 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2025 and 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2025 : 2026 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 11,716 11,510 98 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,554 1,611 104 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,633 1,522 93 Other disappearance during February ....: 60 50 83 On feed March 1 ........................: 11,577 11,549 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2025 : 2026 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed April 1 ..................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,258 7,256 100 63 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,380 4,320 99 37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2026 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2025 : March 1, 2026 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 228 224 226 99 101 California .......: 500 510 505 101 99 Colorado .........: 1,000 925 915 92 99 Idaho ............: 340 350 355 104 101 Iowa .............: 680 680 690 101 101 Kansas ...........: 2,340 2,350 2,360 101 100 Nebraska .........: 2,600 2,670 2,640 102 99 Oklahoma .........: 335 330 335 100 102 South Dakota .....: 240 245 245 102 100 Texas ............: 2,670 2,530 2,560 96 101 Washington .......: 260 275 270 104 98 : Other States .....: 445 460 475 107 103 : United States ....: 11,638 11,549 11,576 99 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2026 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2025 :February 2026 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 24 23 96 96 California .......: 54 59 62 115 105 Colorado .........: 135 120 125 93 104 Idaho ............: 43 40 49 114 123 Iowa .............: 104 104 105 101 101 Kansas ...........: 430 405 410 95 101 Nebraska .........: 500 410 425 85 104 Oklahoma .........: 40 39 45 113 115 South Dakota .....: 41 36 36 88 100 Texas ............: 370 280 315 85 113 Washington .......: 34 39 38 112 97 : Other States .....: 68 55 76 112 138 : United States ....: 1,843 1,611 1,709 93 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 40 20 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 45 65 125 135 60 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 30 70 135 165 100 (D) (D) 500 Texas .........: 130 75 85 60 20 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 105 55 100 108 40 (D) (D) 408 : United States .: 335 285 475 508 (X) 175 65 1,843 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 2026 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 20 25 30 25 20 (D) (D) 120 Kansas ........: 45 70 130 110 50 (D) (D) 405 Nebraska ......: 30 60 125 130 65 (D) (D) 410 Texas .........: 105 55 65 45 10 (D) (D) 280 : Other States ..: 105 70 95 86 40 (D) (D) 396 : United States .: 305 280 445 396 (X) 130 55 1,611 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2026 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 25 35 20 (D) (D) 125 Kansas ........: 40 60 125 125 60 (D) (D) 410 Nebraska ......: 25 60 115 140 85 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 115 55 70 55 20 (D) (D) 315 : Other States ..: 115 55 100 119 45 (D) (D) 434 : United States .: 320 250 435 474 (X) 170 60 1,709 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2026 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2025 :February 2026 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 19 20 91 105 California .......: 58 55 63 109 115 Colorado .........: 140 110 130 93 118 Idaho ............: 37 39 43 116 110 Iowa .............: 93 92 93 100 101 Kansas ...........: 400 395 390 98 99 Nebraska .........: 475 410 445 94 109 Oklahoma .........: 44 38 39 89 103 South Dakota .....: 34 24 34 100 142 Texas ............: 330 250 275 83 110 Washington .......: 33 33 42 127 127 : Other States .....: 61 57 58 95 102 : United States ....: 1,727 1,522 1,632 94 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2026 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2025 :February 2026 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 4 4 67 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 1 2 2 200 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 10 10 67 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 2 2 100 100 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 3 3 150 100 : United States ....: 55 50 50 91 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 213 200 211 15 10 15 California .........: 410 400 415 90 100 90 Colorado ...........: 535 475 495 465 415 420 Idaho ..............: 180 185 195 160 160 160 Iowa ...............: 530 530 540 150 150 150 Kansas .............: 1,350 1,400 1,400 990 990 960 Nebraska ...........: 1,710 1,660 1,750 890 960 890 Oklahoma ...........: 195 190 205 140 135 130 South Dakota .......: 150 140 155 90 95 90 Texas ..............: 1,530 1,375 1,405 1,140 1,155 1,155 Washington .........: 140 150 150 120 120 120 : Other States .......: 315 310 335 130 145 140 : United States ......: 7,258 7,015 7,256 4,380 4,435 4,320 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming. 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 0.0 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.6 million head by more than 0.0 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 1,000 head, ranging from 0 to 20,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 3 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 ......................: 0.0 0.1 1 0 20 3 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 20 7 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.1 0 0 2 5 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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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