Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 24, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 11.4 million head on July 1, 2026. The inventory was 2 percent above July 1, 2025. The inventory included 7.12 million steers and steer calves, up 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.25 million head, up slightly from 2025. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.40 million head, 3 percent below 2025. Net placements were 1.35 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 325,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 225,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 300,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 309,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 160,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.66 million head, 3 percent below 2025. Marketings were the lowest for June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during June, 6 percent below 2025. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2025 and 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2025 : 2026 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,443 11,682 102 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,441 1,399 97 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,707 1,661 97 Other disappearance during June ........: 53 50 94 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,124 11,370 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2025 and 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2025 : 2026 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,376 11,584 102 Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,887 1,704 90 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,758 1,551 88 Other disappearance during May .........: 62 55 89 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,443 11,682 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2025 : 2026 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed July 1 ...................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,884 7,120 103 63 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,240 4,250 100 37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2026 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2025 : June 1, 2026 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 229 217 215 94 99 California .......: 485 510 500 103 98 Colorado .........: 900 940 930 103 99 Idaho ............: 330 350 340 103 97 Iowa .............: 690 680 680 99 100 Kansas ...........: 2,270 2,420 2,300 101 95 Nebraska .........: 2,440 2,630 2,540 104 97 Oklahoma .........: 320 345 340 106 99 South Dakota .....: 205 235 225 110 96 Texas ............: 2,570 2,610 2,560 100 98 Washington .......: 255 275 270 106 98 : Other States .....: 430 470 470 109 100 : United States ....: 11,124 11,682 11,370 102 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2026 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2025 : May 2026 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 17 20 21 124 105 California .......: 55 65 52 95 80 Colorado .........: 110 140 110 100 79 Idaho ............: 34 42 31 91 74 Iowa .............: 57 77 59 104 77 Kansas ...........: 360 420 305 85 73 Nebraska .........: 360 410 355 99 87 Oklahoma .........: 36 54 46 128 85 South Dakota .....: 23 23 20 87 87 Texas ............: 300 350 305 102 87 Washington .......: 33 45 35 106 78 : Other States .....: 56 58 60 107 103 : United States ....: 1,441 1,704 1,399 97 82 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 ......: 20 20 25 25 20 (D) (D) 110 Kansas ........: 55 65 100 90 50 (D) (D) 360 Nebraska ......: 35 45 80 100 100 (D) (D) 360 Texas .........: 120 65 60 35 20 (D) (D) 300 : Other States ..: 90 40 50 76 55 (D) (D) 311 : United States .: 320 235 315 326 (X) 165 80 1,441 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 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 35 35 25 (D) (D) 140 Kansas ........: 50 65 120 115 70 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 35 40 90 130 115 (D) (D) 410 Texas .........: 110 60 85 65 30 (D) (D) 350 : Other States ..: 100 55 70 99 60 (D) (D) 384 : United States .: 320 240 400 444 (X) 225 75 1,704 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 20 25 25 20 (D) (D) 110 Kansas ........: 45 55 85 75 45 (D) (D) 305 Nebraska ......: 40 45 80 95 95 (D) (D) 355 Texas .........: 125 65 60 35 20 (D) (D) 305 : Other States ..: 95 40 50 79 60 (D) (D) 324 : United States .: 325 225 300 309 (X) 160 80 1,399 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 June 2026 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2025 : May 2026 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 20 21 22 110 105 California .......: 54 46 58 107 126 Colorado .........: 125 115 115 92 100 Idaho ............: 31 46 39 126 85 Iowa .............: 46 75 57 124 76 Kansas ...........: 430 360 415 97 115 Nebraska .........: 470 405 435 93 107 Oklahoma .........: 50 43 50 100 116 South Dakota .....: 36 31 29 81 94 Texas ............: 350 310 345 99 111 Washington .......: 37 39 39 105 100 : Other States .....: 58 60 57 98 95 : United States ....: 1,707 1,551 1,661 97 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2025 and 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2026 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2025 : May 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 ............: 3 1 2 67 200 Iowa .............: 1 2 2 200 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 2 1 50 50 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 3 3 100 100 : United States ....: 53 55 50 94 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 219 211 205 10 15 10 California .........: 400 415 410 85 90 90 Colorado ...........: 460 495 495 440 420 435 Idaho ..............: 180 195 190 150 160 150 Iowa ...............: 550 540 540 140 150 140 Kansas .............: 1,320 1,400 1,390 950 960 910 Nebraska ...........: 1,600 1,750 1,660 840 890 880 Oklahoma ...........: 180 205 205 140 130 135 South Dakota .......: 125 155 140 80 90 85 Texas ..............: 1,405 1,405 1,400 1,165 1,155 1,160 Washington .........: 140 150 150 115 120 120 : Other States .......: 305 335 335 125 140 135 : United States ......: 6,884 7,256 7,120 4,240 4,320 4,250 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.4 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 2 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 2 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.3 1 0 20 7 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.1 0 0 2 5 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Estimation Branch Contacts For more information about specific data items, please contact the Estimation Branch staff members below. You can also email inquiries to nass@usda.gov. Anthony Prillaman, Associate Deputy Administrator............................................................................... (202) 720-2127 Darin Jantzi, Section Chief..................................................................................................... (701) 412-5953 Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Eggs, Hogs and Pigs, Layers, Sheep and Goats Jeff Lemmons, Section Chief..................................................................................................... (202) 973-3272 Cattle, Cattle on Feed, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage Fleming Gibson, Section Chief (Acting).......................................................................................... 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