Nebraska Poised to Surpass Texas in National Cattle Inventory

By Scout Nelson

Nebraska is rapidly closing the gap with Texas in the nation’s cattle feeding sector, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The report shows that Nebraska feedlots with 1,000 or more head held 2.43 million cattle on September 1, representing a 5% increase from the previous year.

Nationally, large feedlots held 11.08 million cattle, down 1.1% from a year earlier. This marks the tenth consecutive month of decline in national feedlot inventories, reaching the lowest level since October 2017, according to Derrell Peel, a livestock economist at Oklahoma State University.

Nebraska ranks second in the nation with a 2.50 million head, just behind Texas. However, industry observers believe Nebraska may soon overtake Texas as the top cattle-feeding state. Texas feedlot placements in August fell 18%, while Nebraska’s declined only 4% during the same period.

Several factors are driving this shift. The closure of the Mexican border due to a screwworm outbreak has limited placements in Texas feedlots. In contrast, Nebraska is seeing an expansion in its cattle infrastructure, including the opening of Blackshirt Feeders, a state-of-the-art facility in southwest Nebraska with a capacity of 150,000 head.

Nebraska also benefits from key economic and logistical advantages, such as better access to feed supplies, lower transportation costs, and a robust meat processing sector. These factors contribute to the state’s growing prominence in the national beef industry and support more efficient production.

Industry experts expect Nebraska’s strong feedlot growth and infrastructure development to continue. With its expanding capacity and resource advantages, Nebraska is on track to soon surpass Texas and become the nation’s leading state for cattle feeding operations and livestock management.

As the cattle industry evolves, Nebraska’s momentum highlights its vital role in sustaining U.S. beef production and supporting rural economic growth across the Great Plains.

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