October Cattle On Feed Report...

Released by USDA on October 20, 2023

United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on October 1, 2023. The inventory was 1 percent above October 1, 2022. This is the second highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 6.95 million steers and steer calves, up slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.64 million head, up 1 percent from 2022.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.21 million head, 6 percent above 2022. Net placements were 2.15 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 355,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 521,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 290,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.66 million head, 11 percent below 2022.

Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during September, 8 percent above 2022.