Typically, feeder cattle concentrations have shifted north from Kansas and Texas into states such as Iowa and Nebraska in the summer months; however, the industry has seen new movement beginning earlier this year.

With the cattle herd is at an all-time low, we are all wondering when herd rebuilding will begin and how long this cattle cycle will last. In the past six years, 8 million head of cattle have left the herd. Even with mass liquidation, beef production continues to grow, said Kevin Good, CattleFax analyst, at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

Heifers remain a significant part of fed cattle population, indicating producers are not yet rebuilding herds.

The USDA’s June 2024 Cattle on Feed report showed 11.6 million cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the country on feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head, slightly below the June 2023 report.

The USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report, published May 24, showed that 1.87 million head of fed cattle were marketed in April, a more than 10% increase from the same period last year.

There was a 10% increase in February feedlot placements from 2023 to 1.89 million head, representing the most February placements since at least 1996.