Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released May 23, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Special Note Beginning on May 30, 2025, NASS will no longer generate publications tailored specifically to individual states or regions. There is no impact on state- level data as it will continue to be available in the national releases and through NASS's public online database, Quick Stats. All NASS reports are available to the public at nass.usda.gov. 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 11.4 million head on May 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below May 1, 2024. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.61 million head, 3 percent below 2024. Net placements were 1.56 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 310,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 225,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 370,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 443,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 195,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.83 million head, 3 percent below 2024. Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during April, 11 percent below 2024. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2024 and 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2024 : 2025 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 11,826 11,638 98 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,656 1,613 97 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,872 1,825 97 Other disappearance during April .......: 56 50 89 On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,554 11,376 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2024 and 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2024 : 2025 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 11,838 11,577 98 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,752 1,843 105 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,707 1,727 101 Other disappearance during March .......: 57 55 96 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,826 11,638 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : May 1, 2025 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : May 1, 2024 : April 1, 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 254 228 231 91 101 California .......: 525 500 485 92 97 Colorado .........: 950 1,000 960 101 96 Idaho ............: 340 340 335 99 99 Iowa .............: 660 680 680 103 100 Kansas ...........: 2,300 2,340 2,290 100 98 Minnesota ........: 110 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 2,510 2,600 2,550 102 98 Oklahoma .........: 320 335 325 102 97 South Dakota .....: 245 240 235 96 98 Texas ............: 2,770 2,670 2,590 94 97 Washington .......: 245 260 255 104 98 : Other States .....: 325 445 440 135 99 : United States ....: 11,554 11,638 11,376 98 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2024 : March 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 23 24 23 100 96 California .......: 60 54 51 85 94 Colorado .........: 135 135 120 89 89 Idaho ............: 39 43 38 97 88 Iowa .............: 89 104 87 98 84 Kansas ...........: 370 430 380 103 88 Minnesota ........: 16 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 445 500 445 100 89 Oklahoma .........: 44 40 45 102 113 South Dakota .....: 30 41 29 97 71 Texas ............: 330 370 310 94 84 Washington .......: 34 34 33 97 97 : Other States .....: 41 68 52 127 76 : United States ....: 1,656 1,843 1,613 97 88 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 April 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 ......: 25 20 30 35 25 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 40 50 110 105 65 (D) (D) 370 Nebraska ......: 30 45 100 160 110 (D) (D) 445 Texas .........: 125 55 65 60 25 (D) (D) 330 : Other States ..: 115 50 70 91 50 (D) (D) 376 : United States .: 335 220 375 451 (X) 205 70 1,656 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 April 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 25 30 20 (D) (D) 120 Kansas ........: 45 55 115 105 60 (D) (D) 380 Nebraska ......: 30 45 100 160 110 (D) (D) 445 Texas .........: 110 55 65 55 25 (D) (D) 310 : Other States ..: 100 50 65 93 50 (D) (D) 358 : United States .: 310 225 370 443 (X) 195 70 1,613 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 April 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2024 : March 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 24 22 19 79 86 California .......: 59 58 60 102 103 Colorado .........: 170 140 155 91 111 Idaho ............: 43 37 42 98 114 Iowa .............: 87 93 86 99 92 Kansas ...........: 460 400 420 91 105 Minnesota ........: 10 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 465 475 485 104 102 Oklahoma .........: 53 44 54 102 123 South Dakota .....: 34 34 33 97 97 Texas ............: 385 330 380 99 115 Washington .......: 38 33 37 97 112 : Other States .....: 44 61 54 123 89 : United States ....: 1,872 1,727 1,825 97 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2024 : March 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 ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 2 1 1 50 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 2 1 100 50 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 3 150 150 : United States ....: 56 55 50 89 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 0.2 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 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 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 11,000 head, ranging from 0 to 46,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 9 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 ......................: 0.2 0.3 11 0 46 9 1 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 20 7 6 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 6 7 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed, Dairy Products .. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows............. (202) 720-3278 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ....................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ................... (202) 720-4448 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. Both national and state 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" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. 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