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The December Cattle on Feed Report from USDA does show a slight drop compared to the November report. The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for was 12 million head on December 1st, slightly below December 1, 2023.
Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.8 million head, four percent below the same time in 2023. Net placements totaled 1.74 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000 ahead, 600-699 pounds were 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds totaled 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 276,000 head, 900-999 pounds totaled 145,000 head, and 1,000 pounds or greater reached 85,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during November totaled 1.73 million head, is one percent below November 2023.