USDA on Friday said the number of cattle on feed as of May 1 rose 2% from a year ago, while placements increased by 6% — both figures topped analyst expectations.
April marketings were down 10% from a year ago. Cattle markets had pulled back, with feeders declining sharply to a two-month low over the past two sessions, as traders awaited the report.
| Cattle on Feed Report | USDA % of Year Ago | Average Estimate % of Year Ago* |
| Cattle on Feed (May 1) | 102% | 101.6 |
| Placements (April) | 106% | 103.4 |
| Marketings (April) | 90% | 90.7 |
*Estimates from Reuters survey
A survey by Reuters had produced an average estimate for cattle on feed to rise 1.6% from last year, while placements were seen up 3.4% and marketings down 9.3%. The May report marked the first time cattle on feed posted a year-over-year rise in 18 months, which underscores the historic tightness of cattle supplies, with the herd having shrunk to its smallest in over 70 years as a result of drought and other factors.
USDA said 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 May 1, 2026.
Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.70 million head. Net placements were 1.65 million head. Breaking down by weight, USDA said placements were:
- Under 600 pounds, 330,000 head,
- 600-699 pounds, 245,000 head,
- 700-799 pounds, 390,000 head,
- 800-899 pounds, 457,000 head,
- 900-999 pounds, 210,000 head,
- 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.64 million head. Other disappearances totaled 52,000 head, 4% above 2025.