U.S. cattle on feed drops 2 per cent as heifer numbers decline

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its latest cattle on feed report, revealing a slight decline in feedlot inventory.

As of July 1, cattle and calves being raised for slaughter in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 11.1 million — down 2 per cent form the same time last year.

Despite the overall dip, the number of steers and steer calves rose by 1 per cent, reaching 6.88 million head and making up 62 per cent of the total inventory. In contrast, heifers and heifer calves saw a notable decrease, falling 5 per cent to 4.24 million head.

June placements into feedlots were also down, totaling 1.44 million head — an 8 per cent drop from June 2024. Net placements stood at 1.39 million. The breakdown by weight showed:

• 320,000 head under 600 pounds;
• 235,000 head between 600-699 pounds;
• 315,000 head between 700-799 pounds;
• 326,000 head between 800-899 pounds;
• 165,000 head between 900-999 pounds; and
• 80,000 head weighing 1,000 pounds or more.

Fed cattle marketings in June reached 1.71 million head, marking a 4 per cent decline from the previous year and the lowest June figure since the data series began in 1996. Additionally, other disappearance — cattle removed from feedlots for reasons other than slaughter — totaled 53,000 head, down 7 per cent from last year.