Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released September 19, 2025, 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 11.1 million head on September 1, 2025. The inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2024. Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.78 million head, 10 percent below 2024. Net placements were 1.73 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 265,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 390,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 420,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 260,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.57 million head, 14 percent below 2024. Marketings were the lowest for August since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 51,000 head during August, 6 percent below 2024. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2024 and 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2024 : 2025 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,095 10,922 98 Placed on feed during August ...........: 1,976 1,780 90 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,819 1,571 86 Other disappearance during August ......: 54 51 94 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,198 11,080 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2024 and 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2024 : 2025 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 11,304 11,124 98 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,702 1,598 94 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 1,855 1,749 94 Other disappearance during July ........: 56 51 91 On feed August 1 .......................: 11,095 10,922 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : September 1, 2025 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :September 1, 2024: August 1, 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 233 222 220 94 99 California .......: 520 475 475 91 100 Colorado .........: 970 880 890 92 101 Idaho ............: 315 325 330 105 102 Iowa .............: 660 690 690 105 100 Kansas ...........: 2,280 2,270 2,350 103 104 Minnesota ........: 95 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 2,320 2,390 2,430 105 102 Oklahoma .........: 330 310 315 95 102 South Dakota .....: 185 190 195 105 103 Texas ............: 2,750 2,490 2,500 91 100 Washington .......: 245 255 265 108 104 : Other States .....: 295 425 420 142 99 : United States ....: 11,198 10,922 11,080 99 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2024 : July 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 15 17 18 120 106 California .......: 61 53 51 84 96 Colorado .........: 155 110 140 90 127 Idaho ............: 50 38 45 90 118 Iowa .............: 75 66 65 87 98 Kansas ...........: 535 435 475 89 109 Minnesota ........: 10 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 495 440 475 96 108 Oklahoma .........: 50 41 49 98 120 South Dakota .....: 30 22 28 93 127 Texas ............: 415 290 340 82 117 Washington .......: 36 33 41 114 124 : Other States .....: 49 53 53 108 100 : United States ....: 1,976 1,598 1,780 90 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 August 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 30 30 40 30 (D) (D) 155 Kansas ........: 65 95 160 140 75 (D) (D) 535 Nebraska ......: 40 45 95 150 165 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 175 95 80 50 15 (D) (D) 415 : Other States ..: 90 40 70 101 75 (D) (D) 376 : United States .: 395 305 435 481 (X) 270 90 1,976 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 ........: 60 75 130 110 60 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 40 50 95 135 120 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 130 60 55 30 15 (D) (D) 290 : Other States ..: 90 40 60 78 55 (D) (D) 323 : United States .: 340 245 365 378 (X) 195 75 1,598 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 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 25 25 35 30 (D) (D) 140 Kansas ........: 55 80 150 120 70 (D) (D) 475 Nebraska ......: 40 45 90 140 160 (D) (D) 475 Texas .........: 145 75 65 40 15 (D) (D) 340 : Other States ..: 90 40 60 85 75 (D) (D) 350 : United States .: 355 265 390 420 (X) 260 90 1,780 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 August 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2024 : July 2025 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----- : Arizona ..........: 21 23 19 90 83 California .......: 55 57 45 82 79 Colorado .........: 140 125 125 89 100 Idaho ............: 44 42 39 89 93 Iowa .............: 64 65 63 98 97 Kansas ...........: 455 425 385 85 91 Minnesota ........: 14 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) Nebraska .........: 485 480 425 88 89 Oklahoma .........: 44 50 43 98 86 South Dakota .....: 34 35 22 65 63 Texas ............: 390 360 320 82 89 Washington .......: 30 32 30 100 94 : Other States .....: 43 55 55 128 100 : United States ....: 1,819 1,749 1,571 86 90 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NA) Not available. Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2024 and 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2025 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2024 : July 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 .............: 1 1 2 200 200 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 2 1 100 50 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 3 3 300 100 : United States ....: 54 51 51 94 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 11.1 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 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 5,000 head, ranging from 0 to 33,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 6 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 0.2 5 0 33 6 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 20 5 5 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.1 1 0 5 6 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. Cornell's Mann Library website houses NASS's and other agency's archived reports at https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from https://usda.library.cornell.edu. 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