USDA Cattle on Feed

United States Cattle on Feed Down 3 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on February 1, 2014. The inventory was 3 percent below February 1, 2013.

Placements in feedlots during January totaled 2.03 million, 9 percent above 2013. Net placements were 1.96 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 470,000, 600-699 pounds were 440,000, 700-799 pounds were 560,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 559,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.79 million, 5 percent below 2013. 

Other disappearance totaled 71,000 during January, 10 percent below 2013.

2013 Cattle on Feed and Annual Size Group Estimates

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 83.4 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on January 1, 2014, down from 83.8 on January 1, 2013.

Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2013 represented 87.8 percent of all cattle marketed from feedlots in the United States, down from 88.5 percent during 2012.

Source: USDA