Interpretation of the USDA Cattle on Feed Report

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Services publishes a monthly report called the U.S. Cattle on Feed Report. This report shows data on the number of cattle in U.S. feedlots, the number being placed in feedlots and the number being marketed for slaughter.

NASS surveys feedlots that have at least 1,000 head of cattle in 17 major cattle feeding states in the United States. The states represent 98 percent of all cattle on feed in feedlots with at least 1,000 head capacities.

The four main inventory numbers reported in the report includes cattle-on-feed inventory, placements, marketings and other disappearance. Together, these data provide stock and flow information that enable market analysis, traders and industry firms to estimate current and future slaughter cattle supplies.