WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The January Cattle-on-Feed Report (PDF Version) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reinforced a tightening cattle supply picture, with on-feed inventories and placements running slightly stronger than pre-report expectations, while marketings also topped estimates. The combination keeps attention on shrinking feeder supplies and the pace of marketing as 2026 gets underway.
Cattle on feed in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 11.5 million head on January 1, down 3 percent from a year earlier. That translated to 97 percent of last year, above the average trade guess of 96.8 percent. The inventory included 7.02 million steers and steer calves and 4.44 million heifers and heifer calves, both down 3 percent year over year, with steers making up 61 percent of total cattle on feed.
December placements totaled 1.55 million head, or 95 percent of last year’s total, which was higher than the average trade estimate of 93.5 percent. Placements were spread across weight categories, led by cattle under 800 pounds, but the year-over-year decline continues to signal limited feeder availability. Marketings totaled 1.77 million head, or 102 percent of last year, also above the average trade guess of 101.5 percent, pointing to steady pull-through from feedyards.
State-level inventories showed a shifting regional balance among the biggest feeding states. Nebraska remained the top cattle feeding state, up 2 percent year over year, while Texas ranked second but was down 9 percent. Kansas was flat from a year earlier, holding steady as overall U.S. on-feed numbers declined.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Trade volatility and shifting export destinations increase marketing risk for producers heading into 2026.
January 18, 2026 07:00 AM
·
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
January 17, 2026 05:00 PM
·
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
January 17, 2026 02:00 PM
·
The Midland County Junior Livestock Show in West Texas features a competitive steer showcase highlighting top-quality cattle and the accomplishments of driven youth exhibitors.
January 16, 2026 01:48 PM
·
CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
January 16, 2026 01:44 PM
·
National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses corn supply pressures, market fundamentals, policy considerations, and producer outlook for the year ahead.
January 16, 2026 01:13 PM
·
January 16, 2026 09:57 AM
·
Soft equipment sales signal cautious farm spending as producers prioritize cash flow over expansion.
January 16, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
January 15, 2026 03:04 PM
·
