According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Cattle on Feed report, April 17, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 11.6 million head on April 1, down 1 percent from a year earlier.
The inventory included 7.26 million steers and steer calves, down slightly from 2025 and accounting for 63 percent of the total. Heifers and heifer calves totaled 4.32 million head, a 1 percent decline from the previous year.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.71 million head, 7 percent below the same month last year. Net placements were 1.66 million head. March placements were the second lowest for the month since the series began in 1996.
By weight category, placements included 320,000 head weighing less than 600 pounds, 250,000 head at 600 to 699 pounds, 435,000 head at 700 to 799 pounds, 474,000 head at 800 to 899 pounds, 170,000 head at 900 to 999 pounds, and 60,000 head at 1,000 pounds or more.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million head, down 6 percent from 2025 and also the second lowest for March since 1996.
Other disappearance during March totaled 50,000 head, 9 percent below a year earlier.
