The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released their December Cattle on Feed Report, which indicates 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 totaled 11.7 million head on December 1, 2022. The inventory was 3 percent below December 1, 2021.
Gary Crawford reports the new numbers show a continued reduction in beef cattle numbers.
Other numbers from the USDA report show placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.93 million head, 2 percent below 2021. Net placements were 1.87 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 540,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 465,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 405,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 290,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 135,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during November totaled 1.89 million head, 1 percent above 2021. Marketing’s were the highest for November since the series began in 1996.