July 1 Cattle on Feed Up 2% Over Last Year

An article on DTN/Progressive Farmer

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on July 1, 2026. The inventory was 2% above July 1, 2025, USDA NASS reported on July 24.

The inventory included 7.12 million steers and steer calves, up 3% from the previous year. This group accounted for 63% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.25 million head, up slightly from 2025, USDA said.

Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.40 million head, 3% below 2025. Net placements were 1.35 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 325,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 225,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 300,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 309,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 160,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.

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