The USDA January Cattle on Feed report indicated that cattle and calves on feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head on January 1, 2025. This was a 1% decrease from the previous year.

There were 7.25 million steers and calves, which made up 61% of the total inventory. This was a 1% increase from last year. There were 4.58 million head of heifers and heifer calves. This was down 3% from the previous year.

December feedlot placements totaled 1.64 million head. This was a 3% decrease from 2023. Placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds came in at 395,000 head. Cattle weighing 600 to 699 pounds were 380,000 head. There were 375,000 head that weighed 700 to 799 pounds and 287,000 head that weighed 800 to 899 pounds. There were 115,000 head that weighed 900 to 999 pounds and 90,000 head that weighed 1,000 pounds or more.

Read more from the January report.