Recent data from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reveals a modest uptick in the number of cattle and calves being reared on feed for the slaughter market in the United States. The inventory, as recorded on the first of December, stood at an estimated 12 million head, a figure that surpasses last year’s count by 3%.
Delving into the specifics of cattle placements in feedlots for November, the report indicates a total of 1.87 million head, which is slightly lower, by 2%, compared to the numbers in 2022. The net placements were marginally less, tallying at 1.81 million head.
A closer look at the weight categories of these placements shows a diverse range: 535,000 heads were under 600 lbs, 440,000 heads fell into the 600-699 lbs bracket, 380,000 heads were in the 700-799 lbs range, 288,000 heads weighed between 800-899 lbs, 140,000 head were in the 900-999 lbs category, and 85,000 head tipped the scales at 1,000 lbs or more.
The report also sheds light on the marketing of fed cattle during November, which saw a total of 1.75 million head, marking a decrease of 7% from the same period in 2022.
Furthermore, the category termed ‘other disappearance’, which accounts for cattle exiting the feedlots for reasons other than slaughter, was reported at 54,000 head in November, showing a 5% decline from the previous year.
The NASS Cattle on Feed survey, which forms the basis of these findings, is a comprehensive exercise conducted across the 16 most prominent cattle-feeding states in the US. It encompasses a survey of around 2,000 known cattle feeders, each with the capacity to rear 1,000 or more heads.
This nuanced data from the USDA offers a lens into the subtle shifts and trends in the US cattle industry, providing stakeholders with critical insights into the dynamics of cattle rearing and distribution.
