USDA – The bigger-than-expected jump in placements in the March Cattle on Feed Report seems to be driven by poor pasture conditions due to drought in the Plains. Texas (up 40,000 head), Kansas (up 50,000 head), Nebraska (up 55,000 head) and Colorado (up 10,000 head) accounted for nearly the entire 157,000-head increase in placements.
Feedlots placed more cattle in every weight category except for heavyweights (1,000-plus lbs.), which were steady and accounted for only 3.0% of the total. Placements increased 7.5% in lightweights (under 600 lbs.), 10.2% in 6-weights, 8.6% in 7-weights, 12.5% in 8-weights and 8.0% in 9-weights compared to year-ago levels.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.2 million head on March 1, 2022. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2021.
This is the highest March 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.85 million head, 9 percent above 2021. Net placements were 1.79 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 325,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 505,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 468,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 135,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 55,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.83 million head, 5 percent above 2021.
Other disappearance totaled 59,000 head during February, 2 percent above 2021.
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 1,120,000 head as of March 1, 2022. The latest inventory was down 2 percent from February 1, 2022, but up 2 percent from March 1, 2021.
An estimated 175,000 head of cattle and calves were placed on feed during February 2022, 12 percent below last month, but up 6 percent from the February 2021 placements. Of the number placed in February, 17 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 20 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 26 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 26 percent weighed 800 to 899 pounds and 11 percent weighed 900 pounds or greater.
Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 190,000 head of fed cattle during February 2022, up 3 percent from the previous month and up 6 percent from the February 2021 marketings.
Other disappearance for February, at 5,000 head, was unchanged from 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 100,000 head on March 1, 2022, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from February but down 13 percent from March 1, 2021.
Placements of cattle and calves in Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February totaled 15,000 head, up 25 percent from January and up 15 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February totaled 14,000 head, up 27 percent from January and up 17 percent from last year.
Other disappearance totaled 1,000 head.
NEBRASKA
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.69 million cattle on feed on March 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 3% from last year.
Placements during February totaled 495,000 head, up 13% from 2021.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of February totaled 455,000 head, up 6% from last year.
Other disappearance during February totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.
IOWA
*Note: This report is a combination of estimates from the USDA Cattle on Feed survey for Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-funded Cattle on Feed survey for Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head.
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 March 1, 2022, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from February but down 3 percent from March 1, 2021. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 590,000 head on feed, up 1 percent from last month and up 7 percent from last year.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,200,000 head, up slightly from last month and up 2 percent from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February 2022 totaled 106,000 head, down 4 percent from January and down 5 percent from February 2021. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 71,000 head, down 16 percent from January but up 97 percent from February 2021. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 177,000 head, down 9 percent from January but up 20 percent from February 2021.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February 2022 totaled 103,000 head, up 5 percent from January and up 4 percent from February 2021. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 62,000 head, down 2 percent from January but up 17 percent from February 2021. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 165,000 head, up 2 percent from January and up 9 percent from February 2021.
Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 7,000 head.
KANSAS
Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.51 million cattle on feed on March 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2% from last year.
Placements during February totaled 430,000 head, up 13% from 2021.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of February totaled 450,000 head, up 7% from last year.
Other disappearance during February totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.
OKLAHOMA / TEXAS
*This report contains results from the March 2022 Cattle on Feed Survey collected during the first two weeks of March. 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 Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.94 million head on March 1, 2022, up 2 percent from a year ago.
Producers placed 350 thousand head in commercial feedlots during February, up 13 percent from a year ago.
Texas commercial feeders marketed 335 thousand head during February, unchanged from 2021.
On March 1, there were 2.60 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 2 percent from last year but down slightly from the February 1 total.
February placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 307 thousand head, down 12 percent from the January total.
Marketings were down 5 percent from last month at 301 thousand head.
