September 19 USDA Cattle on Feed Report

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.

On Feed, by State  (1,000 hd - % Sept 1 '24)
Colorado .......:            890             92               
Iowa .............:            690             105            
Kansas ...........:          2,350           103          
Nebraska .......:          2,430           105         
Texas ............:          2,500             91          

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.

Placements by State  (1,000 hd - % Aug '24)
Colorado .......:              140             90           
Iowa .............:               65             87              
Kansas ...........:              475             89           
Nebraska .......:              475             96            
Texas ............:              340             82           

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.

Marketings by State  (1,000 hd - % Aug '24)
Colorado .......:                  125             89           
Iowa .............:                    63             98         
Kansas ...........:                  385             85          
Nebraska .......:                  425             88          
Texas ............:                  320             82            

Going into the release of the report, the average trade estimate for on-feed numbers on Sept. 1 was 99.1% of a year ago, with a range of 98.7% to 99.7%. Placements in August were estimated at 91.0% with a range of 89.0% to 93.5% and cattle marketed at 87.1% with a range of 86.5% to 87.6%.