The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their latest Cattle on Feed Report, and the new numbers show quite a drop. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more was 11.6 million head on
March 1st, four percent below March 1, 2022.
As Gary Crawford reports, supplies of beef cattle are down sharply.
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.73 million head, 7 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.68 million head. Placements of cattle and calves in February weighing less than 600 pounds were 345,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 424,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 50,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during February totaled 1.74 million head, 5 percent below 2022.