According to a new monthly report, cattle on feed in the U.S. is down slightly, which is no big surprise. The USDA report notes as of November 1st, 11.9 million head were on hand. According to a report from Gary Crawford, that confirms expectations of a smaller beef herd going into next year.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on
November 1, 2021. The inventory was slightly below November 1, 2020.
Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.25 million head, 2 percent above 2020. Net placements were 2.19 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 575,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 500,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 425,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 190,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during October totaled 1.79 million head, 5 percent below 2020.