Cattle on Feed Up 3%; Placements Slightly Higher Than Expected

(WASHINGTON D.C.) — The latest Cattle on Feed Report from USDA showed higher on-feed numbers and higher placements than pre-report estimates.

Cattle and calves on feed 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. 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.

View the full report here: https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/m326m174z/df65wv76m/nz807k05h/cofd1223.pdf