United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent, (NASS, USDA, July 24, 2026)

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 percent above July 1, 2025. The inventory included 7.12 million steers and steer calves, up 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.25 million head, up slightly from 2025.

Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.40 million head, 3 percent 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.

Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.66 million head, 3 percent below 2025. Marketings were the lowest for June since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during June, 6 percent below 2025.

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July 1 Cattle Inventory Up Slightly, (NASS, USDA, July 24, 2026)

All cattle and calves in the United States on July 1, 2026 totaled 94.2 million head, slightly above the 94.0 million head on July 1, 2025.

All cows and heifers that have calved, totaled 38.1 million head, unchanged from the 38.1 million head on July 1, 2025. Beef cows, at 28.5 million head, are down 1 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.65 million head, are up 2 percent from previous year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2026 totaled 14.7 million head, 1 percent above the 14.6 million head on July 1, 2025. Beef replacement heifers, at 3.80 million head, are up 3 percent from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 3.60 million head, are up 3 percent from previous year. Other heifers, at 7.30 million head, are 1 percent below a year earlier.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2026 totaled 13.9 million head, up 1 percent from July 1, 2025.

Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over on July 1, 2026 totaled 1.90 million head, unchanged from previous year.

Calves under 500 pounds on July 1, 2026 totaled 25.6 million head, unchanged from a year earlier.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.2 million head on July 1, 2026, up 2 percent from previous year. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 86.1 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2026, up 1 percent from previous year. The total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots), at 33.6 million head, is down 1 percent from the 33.8 million head on July 1, 2025.

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