USDA's June Cattle on Feed report showed 11.682 million head of cattle and calves on feed in feedlots with capacities of 1,000 head or more as of June 1, up 2% from 11.443 million head a year ago. The increase of 239,000 head came despite significantly lower placements and marketings during May.
Placements during May totaled 1.704 million head, down 10% from last year and 183,000 head below May 2025 levels. The largest placement category was cattle weighing 800-899 pounds at 444,000 head, followed by 700-799 pound cattle at 400,000 head. Placements of cattle weighing less than 600 pounds totaled 320,000 head, while only 75,000 head weighing over 1,000 pounds entered feedlots during the month.
Marketings totaled 1.551 million head, down 12% from a year ago and the second-lowest May marketing total since the data series began in 1996. Other disappearance was reported at 55,000 head, down 11% from last year.
State-level data showed Kansas posting the largest monthly increase in cattle on feed, rising 50,000 head from 2.370 million head on May 1 to 2.420 million head on June 1. Texas increased 30,000 head to 2.610 million head, while Colorado added 20,000 head and California increased by 15,000 head. Oklahoma gained 10,000 head and Washington added 5,000 head.
Nebraska, the nation's largest cattle feeding state, saw inventories decline 10,000 head during the month to 2.630 million head. South Dakota also declined by 10,000 head to 235,000 head, while Idaho fell 5,000 head and Arizona was down 2,000 head. Iowa remained unchanged at 680,000 head.
The combination of lower placements and sharply lower marketings resulted in total U.S. cattle on feed inventories increasing by 98,000 head from May 1 to June 1. Feedlots continue to operate with historically large inventories even as feeder cattle supplies remain tight and placements run below year-ago levels.
