December Cattle On Feed Report...

Released by USDA on December 22, 2023

United States Cattle on Feed Up 3 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 12.0 million head on December 1, 2023. The inventory was 3 percent above December 1, 2022.

Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.87 million head, 2 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.81 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 535,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 440,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 380,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 288,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 140,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.75 million head, 7 percent below 2022.

Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during November, 5 percent below 2022.