Cattle on Feed

Big Numbers in USDA’s Cattle Feedlot Report

Dan Cattle

cattle feedlot
Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com

USDA’s latest report on cattle feedlot activity shows the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head was at 12.0 million head on January 1, 2022, 1 percent above January 1, 2021. Gary C4rawford reports that overall, there are some big numbers in this report.

Big Numbers in USDA’s Cattle Feedlot Report

The new inventory number of 12.0 million head includes 7.36 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.68 million head, up 2 percent from 2021.

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Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.96 million head, 6 percent above 2020. Placements were the highest for December since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.91 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 510,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 470,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 450,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 333,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 105,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Marketing’s of fed cattle during December totaled 1.86 million head, slightly above 2020. Marketing’s were the second highest for December since the series began in 1996.