According to the September 2019 Cattle on Feed Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11 million head, 1 percent below Sept. 1, 2018. According to a story from Gary Crawford, this is the first time in years the cattle feedlot inventory dipped below year earlier levels.
The report also notes placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.88 million head, 9 percent below 2018. Net placements were 1.82 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 385,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 300,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 424,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 440,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 230,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 105,000 head.
Marketing of fed cattle during August totaled 1.95 million head, 2 percent below 2018.