Cattle & hog reports
USDA's two big livestock reports in plain English: how many cattle are in feedlots and how fast they're coming and going, and how many hogs are on farms and coming to market.
Cattle on Feed
a year ago 11.08 million
a year ago 1.78 million
a year ago 1.57 million
- 11.16 million head on feed September 1, 1% above a year ago.
- Placements in August: 1.62 million head, 9% below a year ago.
- Marketings: 1.52 million head, 3% below a year ago.
- Fewer placements now usually means fewer fed cattle to sell 4 to 6 months from now; more on feed means more supply nearer term.
| On feed, 1,000 head | September 1 | Last month | Year ago | vs yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,500 | 2,510 | 2,500 | +0% |
| Nebraska | 2,470 | 2,470 | 2,430 | +2% |
| Kansas | 2,320 | 2,260 | 2,350 | -1% |
| Colorado | 905 | 905 | 890 | +2% |
| Iowa | 670 | 670 | 690 | -3% |
| California | 480 | 485 | 475 | +1% |
| Other States | 455 | 465 | 420 | +8% |
| Oklahoma | 350 | 335 | 315 | +11% |
| Idaho | 320 | 325 | 330 | -3% |
| Washington | 270 | 265 | 265 | +2% |
| Arizona | 218 | 217 | 220 | -1% |
| South Dakota | 205 | 210 | 195 | +5% |
| United States | 11,163 | 11,117 | 11,080 | +1% |
| Placed in August, 1,000 head | This year | Year ago | vs yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 440 | 475 | -7% |
| Nebraska | 410 | 475 | -14% |
| Texas | 320 | 340 | -6% |
| Colorado | 115 | 140 | -18% |
| Iowa | 61 | 65 | -6% |
| Oklahoma | 53 | 49 | +8% |
| Other States | 53 | 53 | +0% |
| California | 49 | 51 | -4% |
| Idaho | 40 | 45 | -11% |
| Washington | 38 | 41 | -7% |
| South Dakota | 20 | 28 | -29% |
| Arizona | 18 | 18 | +0% |
| United States | 1,617 | 1,780 | -9% |
Quarterly Hogs and Pigs
a year ago 75.4 million
a year ago 5.94 million
a year ago 69.5 million
- All hogs and pigs September 1: 74.3 million head, 2% below a year ago.
- Breeding herd 5.88 million, 1% below a year ago.
- June-August 2026 pig crop 34.5 million, down 2% from last year.
- Pigs per litter 11.96 (last year 11.82).
- Farrowing intentions for September-November 2026: 2.85 million sows, down 2%.
- Market hogs by weight show supply coming: the 180+ lb group goes to market within about a month, under-50 lb pigs in about 5 months.
| Market hogs, 1,000 head | September 1 | Year ago | vs yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 lb and over (to market soonest) | 12,443 | 12,650 | -2% |
| 120-179 lb | 14,142 | 14,358 | -2% |
| 50-119 lb | 19,976 | 20,283 | -2% |
| Under 50 lb (to market ~5 months) | 21,866 | 22,211 | -2% |
Cattle moved into feedlots this month. They're usually sold as fed cattle 4 to 6 months later, so placements hint at future supply.
Fed cattle sold out of feedlots for slaughter. Strong marketings keep feedlots current; slow ones back cattle up and add weight.
The breeding herd and pig crop set supply for the next 6 to 10 months. Futures react to how far USDA's numbers land from what traders expected.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Cattle on Feed and Quarterly Hogs and Pigs. Summaries are ours; they describe USDA's numbers, not a price forecast. Live cattle · Feeder cattle · Lean hogs · Report calendar