WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — USDA says cattle on feed increased in June, but May placements came in well below the average pre-report trade estimate.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service says cattle and calves on feed in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 11.682 million head on June 1. That was 2 percent above last year, compared with analysts’ average expectation for a 2.5 percent increase.
May placements totaled 1.704 million head, down 10 percent from 2025. Analysts had expected placements to average 94.5 percent of last year, making the actual 90 percent figure the bigger surprise.
Fed cattle marketings totaled 1.551 million head, down 12 percent from last year and slightly below the average estimate. USDA says May marketings were the second lowest for the month since the series began in 1996.
The report points to heavier feedlot inventories, tighter feeder movement, and continued attention on slaughter pace.
