Cattle on Feed Report 03/21 16:04

March 1 Cattle on Feed Down 2% From Year Ago, Placements Down
18%

By DTN Staff

USDA Actual Average Estimate Range
On Feed March 1 98% 98.3% 97.0-99.0%
Placed in February 82% 85.4% 79.1-90.5%
Marketed in February 91% 92.0% 91.2-93.2%

This article was originally published at 2:06 p.m. CDT on
Friday, March 21. It was last updated with additional
information at 3:04 p.m. CDT on Friday, March 21.

**

OMAHA (DTN) -- Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter
market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000
or more head totaled 11.6 million head on March 1, 2025. The
inventory was 2% below March 1, 2024, USDA NASS reported on
Friday.

Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.55 million
head, 18% below 2024. Net placements were 1.49 million head.
During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less
than 600 pounds were 295,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 275,000
head, 700-799 pounds were 415,000 head, 800-899 pounds were
389,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds
and greater were 50,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.63 million
head, 9% below 2024.

Other disappearance totaled 60,000 head during February, 7%
above 2024.

DTN ANALYSIS

"There's simply no denying it: Friday's Cattle on Feed Report
should be viewed as bullish, as Friday's data came in lighter
than both the pre-report estimates and compared to a year ago,"
said DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart.

"Again this month, the line item that demands the most attention
is that of the placement data," Stewart said. "To some degree,
the countryside was braced for Friday's report to show an
increase in placements, as Mexican cattle imports were resumed
following the import ban because of the New World screwworm case
found in Mexico. But as Friday's report clearly showed
placements were down 18% compared to a year ago, placements in
February weren't burdensome. As a matter of fact, none of the
major feeding states saw a year-over-year increase, as
placements in February were down 20% in Iowa compared to a year
ago, down 13% in Nebraska compared to a year ago, down 8% in
Oklahoma compared to a year ago, down 27% in Texas compared to a
year ago and down 22% in Kansas compared to a year ago.

"Above all else, I think it's clear that Friday's data
highlights the fact that not only do we have fewer cattle
domestically to fill pen space than compared to a year ago, but
the limited flow of Mexican feeder cattle has also played a
large role in the placement story of 2025 as well.

"Needless to say, it's likely that traders will find Friday's
Cattle on Feed report to be bullish on Monday morning when the
market opens."

**

DTN subscribers can view the full Cattle on Feed reports in the
Livestock Archives folder under the Markets menu. The report is
also available at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.