Friday July 25th USDA Reports -----> Cattle on Feed - Cattle Inventory - Cold Storage

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 11.1 million head on July 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below July 1, 2024. The inventory included 6.88 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.24 million head, down 5 percent from 2024.

On Feed, by State   (1,000 hd  -  % July 1 '24)
Colorado ......:                900             93            
Iowa .............:                690            106         
Kansas ..........:              2,270           102         
Nebraska ......:              2,440           102          
Texas ............:              2,570            92           

Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.44 million head, 8 percent below 2024. Net placements were 1.39 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 235,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 315,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 326,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 165,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.

Placements by State  (1,000 hd - % June '24)
Colorado ......:                    110            76            
Iowa .............:                    57             121           
Kansas ..........:                   360            114          
Nebraska ......:                    360             87           
Texas ............:                   300             82           

Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.71 million head, 4 percent below 2024. Marketings were the lowest for June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 53,000 head during June, 7 percent below 2024.

Marketings by State  (1,000 hd - % June '24)
Colorado ......:                    125             96            
Iowa .............:                    46               82             
Kansas ..........:                   430            106         
Nebraska ......:                    470             95           
Texas ............:                    350             88           



July 1 Cattle Inventory Down 1 Percent

All cattle and calves in the United States on July 1, 2025 totaled 94.2 million head, 1 percent below the 95.4 million head on July 1, 2023.

All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.1 million head, 1 percent below the 38.4 million head on July 1, 2023. Beef cows, at 28.7 million head, are down 1 percent from two years ago. Milk cows, at 9.45 million head, are up 1 percent from 2023.

All heifers 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2025 totaled 14.6 million head, 2 percent below the 14.9 million head on July 1, 2023. Beef replacement heifers, at 3.70 million head, are down 3 percent from two years earlier. Milk replacement heifers, at 3.50 million head, are unchanged from 2023. Other heifers, at 7.40 million head, are 3 percent below two years ago.

Steers 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2025 totaled 13.8 million head, down 1 percent from July 1, 2023.

Bulls 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2025 totaled 1.90 million head, unchanged from two years earlier.

Calves under 500 pounds on July 1, 2025 totaled 25.8 million head, down 2 percent from 2023.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.0 million head on July 1, 2025, down 1 percent from two years earlier. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 85.6 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2025, down slightly from two years ago. The total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots), at 34.0 million head, is down 2 percent from the 34.7 million head on July 1, 2023. 

Calf Crop Down 1 Percent
The 2025 calf crop in the United States is expected to be 33.1 million head, down 1 percent from last year. Calves born during the first half of 2025 are estimated at 24.3 million head, down 1 percent from the first half of 2024. An additional 8.80 million calves are expected to be born during the second half of 2025.



USDA June 2025 Cold Storage Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on June 30, 2025 were down 4 percent from the previous month and down 7 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 1 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 6 percent from the previous month and down 11 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 17 percent from last month and down 28 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on June 30, 2025 were up 4 percent from the previous month but down 4 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 3 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 8 percent from last month but down 16 percent from June 30, 2024.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on June 30, 2025 were up slightly from the previous month but down slightly from June 30, 2024. Butter stocks were down 3 percent from last month and down 6 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on June 30, 2025 were up 2 percent from last month but down 10 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 1 percent from last month and down 9 percent from a year ago.