New Report Shows Slightly Higher Cattle Inventory Numbers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Cattle on Feed Report shows slightly higher inventory numbers compared to a year ago. Rusty Halvorson runs through the latest numbers.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on November 1st, 2024. The inventory number was slightly above November 1st of last year.

Placements in feedlots during the month of October totaled 2.29 million head, 5 percent above 2023.

During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 585,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 480,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 490,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 436,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 215,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.

Marketing’s of fed cattle during October totaled 1.85 million head, 5 percent higher than 2023.