By Scout Nelson
The latest USDA Cattle on Feed (COF) report, released April 28, 2025, shows feedlot inventories as of April 1 standing at 11.64 million head, a decrease of 1.6% compared to last year. The 12-month moving average of feedlot inventories is now 11.59 million head, the lowest recorded since November 2023.
March feedlot marketings reached 1.73 million head, up 1.1% from a year ago. However, first-quarter marketing was down by 2.2% compared to the same period last year. Placements in March rose by 5.1% compared to 2024 but dropped by 4% over the first three months of 2025.
Feedlot inventories in the current cattle cycle peaked in 2022. Since then, the April 1 inventory has dropped by 4.6% overall. The top six cattle-feeding states—Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, and California—continue to dominate, now accounting for 84.1% of total feedlot inventories, slightly lower than 85.6% in 2022.6% in 2022.6% in 2022. Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and California have seen notable declines, while Iowa shows a 4.6% increase.
Importantly, the report includes quarterly data on steers and heifers. Heifers on feed numbered 4.38 million head, down 3.9% from 2024 and 4.3% from January. They now make up 37.6% of the total on-feed inventory. This is the lowest quarterly heifer total since July 2021 and the lowest percentage since April 2020.
"This may be the first solid evidence that some heifer retention is beginning," said Peel, highlighting a potential early sign of rebuilding efforts within the cattle industry.
Photo Credit:kansas-livestock-foundation
Categories: Kansas, Livestock, Dairy Cattle