The latest Cattle on Feed report from USDA shows a slightly lower inventory number and higher placements compared to last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.5 million head on March 1, 2026. The inventory was slightly below March 1, 2025.
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.61 million head, 4 percent above 2025. Net placements were 1.56 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 305,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 280,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 445,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 396,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 55,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.52 million head, 7 percent below 2025. Marketings were the second lowest for February since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during February, 17 percent below 2025. You can view the full Cattle on Feed report here: https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/publication/cattle-feed
Kyle Bumsted with Allendale joins us for a recap of the latest Cattle on Feed report:
