April Cattle On Feed Report...
Released by USDA on April 17, 2026
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 11.6 million head on April 1, 2026. The inventory was 1 percent below April 1, 2025. The inventory included 7.26 million steers and steer calves, down slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.32 million head, down 1 percent from 2025.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.71 million head, 7 percent below 2025. Net placements were 1.66 million head. Placements were the second lowest for March since the series began in 1996. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 250,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 435,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 474,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 170,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million head, 6 percent below 2025. Marketings were the second lowest for March since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during March, 9 percent below 2025.
Cattle on Feed in 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots on April 1st
Millions of Head
Cattle Placed on Feed in 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots in March
Millions of Head
Cattle Marketed from 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots in March
