The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their November Cattle on Feed Report Friday afternoon, and the new numbers show cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on November 1, 2022, two percent below November 1, 2021.
As Gary Crawford reports, the beef cattle herd may be shrinking faster than had been expected.
The report shows placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.11 million head, 6 percent below 2021. Placements were the lowest for October since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 2.05 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 545,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 465,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 450,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 378,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 190,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle in October were 1.80 million head, 1 percent above last year.