WASHINGTON, D.C. – In general, cattle prices are higher now compared to last year and are expected to continue improving in 2022. Live and Feeder futures have priced in a lot of optimism for 2022. Still, there are plenty of challenges in the mix for cattle producers with continued drought, higher input prices, supply chain disruptions and considerable short-term macroeconomic (unemployment, industrial production, consumption expenditure, among others) instability.
Analysts say it will still be a bumpy ride, but producers can focus more on managing costs with cattle prices generally moving higher.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on November 1, 2021. The inventory was slightly below November 1, 2020.
Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.25 million head, 2 percent above 2020. Net placements were 2.19 million head.
During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 575,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 500,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 425,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 190,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.79 million head, 5 percent below 2020.
Other disappearance totaled 59,000 head during October, 6 percent below 2020.
COLORADO
The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Colorado feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or larger was estimated at 1.15 million head as of November 1, 2021. The latest inventory was 2 percent above last month and 3 percent above the November 1, 2020 inventory.
An estimated 185,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during October 2021, down 16 percent from the previous month’s placements, but 6 percent above the October 2020 placements.
Of the number placed in October, 19 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 19 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 19 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 24 percent weighed 800 to 899 pounds, and 19 percent weighed 900 pounds and greater.
Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 160,000 head of fed cattle during October 2021. This was down 3 percent from last month’s marketings, but unchanged from the marketings one year earlier.
Other disappearance for October, at 5,000 head, was the same as last month and last year.
MINNESOTA
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 105,000 head on November 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 17 percent from October but down 16 percent from November 1, 2020.
Placements of cattle and calves in Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during October totaled 29,000 head, up 53 percent from September but down 17 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during October totaled 13,000 head, down 28 percent from September and down 7 percent from last year.
Other disappearance totaled 1,000 head.
IOWA
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 610,000 head on November 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 2 percent from October but down 2 percent from November 1, 2020. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 470,000 head on feed, up 3 percent from last month but down 6 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,080,000 head, up 2 percent from last month but down 4 percent from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during October totaled 116,000 head, up 45 percent from September and up 10 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 68,000 head, up 10 percent from September but unchanged from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 184,000 head, up 30 percent from September and up 6 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during October totaled 104,000 head, up 55 percent from September and up 13 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 51,000 head, down 6 percent from September and last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 155,000 head, up 28 percent from September and up 6 percent from last year.
Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 4,000 head.
NEBRASKA
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.56 million cattle on feed on November 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2% from last year.
Placements during October totaled 625,000 head, up 12% from 2020.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of October totaled 435,000 head, down 5% from last year.
Other disappearance during October totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.
KANSAS
Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.51 million cattle on feed on November 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down slightly from last year.
Placements during October totaled 435,000 head, up 1% from 2020.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of October totaled 445,000 head, up 1% from last year.
Other disappearance during October totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.
OKLAHOMA/TEXAS
This report contains results from the November 2021 Cattle on Feed Survey collected during the first two weeks of November. Data provided by Oklahoma and Texas producers are the foundation of the estimates made for the Southern Plains region.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Oklahoma feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 300 thousand head on November 1, 2021, down 6 percent from a year ago.
Producers placed 49 thousand head in commercial feedlots during October, down 4 percent from a year ago.
Oklahoma commercial feeders marketed 43 thousand head during October, down 4 percent from 2020.
Other disappearance during October totaled 1 thousand head, unchanged from a year ago.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.85 million head on November 1, 2021, down 2 percent from a year ago.
Producers placed 510 thousand head in commercial feedlots during October, up 6 percent from a year ago.
Texas commercial feeders marketed 375 thousand head during October, down 11 percent from 2020.
On November 1, there were 2.53 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 89 percent of the state’s total. The number on feed across the area was down 2 percent from last year but up 5 percent from the October 1 total.
October placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 460 thousand head, up 15 percent from the September total.
Marketings were down 33 percent from last month at 337 thousand head.
