The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their August 2023 Cattle on Feed Report which 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 11.0 million head on August 1, 2023. The inventory was 2 percent below August 1, 2022.
And according to a report from Gary Crawford, there are no signs of a cattle herd expansion in this report.
USDA livestock analyst, Shayle Shagam says the supply of forage is the key to any eventual cattle herd expansion.
Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.62 million head, 8 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.55 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 250,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 370,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 373,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 75,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during July totaled 1.73 million head, 5 percent below 2022.