The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued its September Cattle on Feed Report and the new numbers indicate cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on October 1, 2022. That is 1 percent below October 1, 2021.
The inventory included 6.90 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.55 million head, up 1 percent from 2021.
And according to a story from Gary Crawford, if there was any doubt that the beef cattle inventory is contracting, this report has erased that doubt.
The report also shows placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.08 million head, 4 percent below 2021. Net placements were 2.03 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 445,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 440,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 480,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 290,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during September totaled 1.86 million head, 4 percent above 2021.