OMAHA, NE – According to DTN, even though total inventory is higher than a year ago, cattle on feed numbers fell 81,000 head from the previous report in December. This is important, as it is the first time since August 2023 that inventory levels have dropped from month to month.
Analysts went on to say overall, the Jan. 1 Cattle on Feed report is expected to be seen as generally neutral. Given that the report’s results were fractionally within estimated ranges, it will likely help to create some additional confidence and stability in the market.
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 Jan. 1, 2024. The inventory was 2% above Jan. 1, 2023, USDA NASS reported on Friday.
The inventory included 7.20 million steers and steer calves, up 2% from the previous year. This group accounted for 60% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.74 million head, up 2% from 2023.
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.70 million head, 4% below 2022. Net placements were 1.64 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 440,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 410,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 380,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 279,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 110,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.73 million head, 1% below 2022.
Other disappearance totaled 60,000 head during December, 11% above 2022.
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 1.02 million head as of January 1, 2024. The latest inventory was down 1 percent from December 1, 2023 and down 2 percent from January 1, 2023. The inventory included 540,000 steers and steer calves, down 7 percent from last year’s number. The number of heifers and heifer calves, at 480,000 head, is up 4 percent from a year ago.
Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 140,000 head of fed cattle during December 2023, down 7 percent from the previous month but unchanged from the December 2022 marketings.
An estimated 135,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during December 2023, down 13 percent from last month and 7 percent below the December 2022 placements of 145,000 head. Of the number placed in December, 22 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 26 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 22 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 15 percent weighed 800 to 899 pounds, and 15 percent weighed 900 pounds or greater.
Other disappearance for December was estimated at 5,000 head, no change from last month or 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 January 1, 2024,
according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 5 percent from December and up 11 percent from January 1, 2023.
Placements of cattle and calves in Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 16,000 head, up 7 percent from November and up 23 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 10,000 head, down 29 percent from November
and down 17 percent from last year.
Other disappearance totaled 1,000 head.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.56 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 2% from last year.
Placements during December totaled 435,000 head, down 7% from 2022.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of December totaled 440,000 head, down 6% from last year.
Other disappearance during December totaled 15,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.
IOWA: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 630,000 head on January 1, 2024, according to
the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 2 percent from December but up 2 percent from January 1, 2023.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 83,000 head, down 6 percent from November
and down 1 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 92,000 head, down 5 percent from November but unchanged from
last year.
Other disappearance from feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head in Iowa totaled 1,000 head.
Note: Iowa cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head estimates will be released on January 31, 2024.
KANSAS: Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.48 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 4% from last year.
Placements during December totaled 395,000 head, down 9% from 2022.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of December totaled 405,000 head, up 11% from last year.
Other disappearance during December totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.
OKLAHOMA: *This report contains results from the January 2024 Cattle on Feed Survey collected during the first two weeks of January. 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 335 thousand head on January 1, 2024, up 22 percent from a year ago.
Producers placed 43 thousand head in commercial feedlots during December, up 23 percent from a year ago.
Oklahoma commercial feeders marketed 32 thousand head during December, down 18 percent from 2023.
Other disappearance during December totaled 1 thousand head, unchanged from a year ago.
TEXAS: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.86 million head on January 1, 2024, up 3 percent from a year ago.
Producers placed 330 thousand head in commercial feedlots during December, down 6 percent from a year ago.
Texas commercial feeders marketed 365 thousand head during December, down 4 percent from 2023.
On January 1, there were 2.53 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 88 percent of the state’s total.
The number on feed across the area was up 3 percent from last year but down 2 percent from the December 1 total.
December placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 300 thousand head, down 14 percent from the November total.
Marketings were up 1 percent from last month at 332 thousand head.
