The February Cattle on Feed Report from USDA shows the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head was 11.7 million head on February 1, 2025. That is 1 percent below February 1, 2024.
Placements in feedlots during January was 1.82 million head, 2 percent above 2024. Net placements were 1.76 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 395,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 505,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 382,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 105,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during January totaled 1.87 million head, 1 percent above 2024.