US cattle feedlot placements rise for first time in nearly a year

US cattle put in feedlots in February totaled 1.611 million head, up 3.7% from 1.554 million head in February 2025, the US Department of Agriculture said in its latest Cattle on Feed report. Although February placements fell 7.5% from the 2021-2025 average, this is the first time that monthly placements have exceeded those of the previous year since March 2025, according to S&P Global Energy data.US cattle put in feedlots in February totaled 1.611 million head, up 3.7% from 1.554 million head in February 2025, the US Department of Agriculture said in its latest Cattle on Feed report. Although February placements fell 7.5% from the 2021-2025 average, this is the first time that monthly placements have exceeded those of the previous year since March 2025, according to S&P Global Energy data.Read More