Cattle stocks in US feedlots reach 11.68 million head on June 1st.

The number of cattle in feedlots in the United States totaled 11.68 million head on June 1, according to data released this Thursday (18) by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and analyzed by DATAGRO LivestockThe result reflects the increase in feedlot inventories, driven mainly by the low volume of animals sold for slaughter. In May, sales of finished cattle totaled 1.55 million head, a level close to the lows observed in 2014, when 1.51 million head were recorded. "This restriction continues to limit supply in the country, which keeps margins tight for the local industry," assesses the… DATAGROThe influx of replacement animals into feedlots also remained weak. In May, 1.70 million head were recorded, a volume 10.1% lower than that observed in the same period of 2025 and 12.4% below the average of the last five years. According to the consultancy, the restricted supply of animals and the slow recovery of the US herd continue to limit the flow of replacement animals to feedlots, keeping the numbers at historically low levels. Another factor contributing to this scenario is the maintenance of restrictions on the import of cattle from Mexico. The US government continues to keep the border closed to the entry of lean animals after reports of the New World blowfly (NWS) in the states of Texas and New Mexico. "At this moment, maintaining the closure of the border with Mexico after the NWS cases in Texas and New Mexico reduces the possibility of reopening the transit of lean animals to the country," the consultancy adds.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.